JIRIBAM, Nov 8: A violent attack on Zairon Hmar village in Manipur’s Jiribam district left at least six houses burned to the ground on Thursday evening, forcing villagers, including women, children, and the elderly, to flee to nearby forests for safety. The attack is part of the ongoing ethnic violence in the region that has claimed over 200 lives since May 2023.
According to police officials, armed militants targeted the Hmar tribal-dominated village, setting fire to the homes during the night. Security forces, led by senior police officers, responded swiftly, regaining control of the area, though the assailants managed to escape before their arrival. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has claimed that gunfire continued for about an hour, and a woman, Sangkim, was burned alive in the attack. Local sources also reported that her body was later dismembered by militants.
The attack in Zairon is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Jiribam district, which has seen tensions rise despite the relative peace it experienced earlier in the year. The district, which borders Assam, has witnessed sporadic violence amid the ethnic strife that has affected various parts of Manipur.
