Amidst heightened tensions in Manipur’s violence-stricken Jiribam district, an advance security team preparing for the imminent visit of Chief Minister N Biren Singh was ambushed by suspected insurgents. Police reported multiple gunshots targeting the security convoy, sparking a retaliatory exchange near Kotlen village along National Highway-53. The confrontation persists, with at least two security personnel sustaining injuries.
This incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violence in the region, ignited by the discovery of the body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh, a 59-year-old Meitei farmer who had been missing for weeks. The grim revelation of Singh’s fate triggered widespread outrage, fueling urgent demands for heightened security measures and advocating for residents’ right to self-defense.
The situation rapidly deteriorated, extending its reach into neighboring Assam, where approximately 600 individuals from various ethnic backgrounds sought refuge in Lakhipur, Cachar district, fleeing the turmoil engulfing their homeland.
Jiribam, positioned 220 km from the state capital Imphal, holds strategic importance as a gateway bordering Assam, intersected by the vital National Highway-37. Its significance is further accentuated by the presence of numerous Kuki villages nestled amidst the surrounding hills.
