• By Vivek Raj
  • Sat, 03 Aug 2024 01:04 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Manipur Violence: A day after Meitei and Hmar groups from Manipur’s Jiribam district held peace talks, a fresh incident of arson occurred on Friday night. A Meitei family's house was set on fire in Lalpani, a Bengali-majority area close to the Kuki village of Sejang.

"We sent a combined team with the CRPF. There was some provocation, but we have controlled the situation without further escalation. We are meeting to deliberate on how to prevent the recurrence of such incidents," said Jiribam SP M. Pradip Singh, as quoted by Indian Express.

On Thursday, leaders from nine civil society organisations in Jiribam, representing Meitei, Hmar, Thadou, Paitei, and Mizo interests, met at the CRPF Group Centre in Cachar. The meeting was moderated by the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, DIG CRPF of Jiribam, and Commandants of the 39 Assam Rifles and 87 Battalion CRPF. The groups agreed on three key resolutions:

  • Both sides will make full efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of firing and arson.
  • Cooperation with security forces operating in the district.
  • Controlled and coordinated movement.

Despite these agreements, Friday night's arson is seen as a backlash against peace developments.

The central Hmar Inpui, headquartered in Churachandpur, criticised its Jiribam unit for participating in peace initiatives. Declaring the Jiribam unit's efforts "null and void," the Hmar Inpui dissolved the local units.

“Hmar Inpui is resolute in its stand to unite and strengthen the collective interests and movement for total separation of the Zohnathlak people from Manipur for all time to come…We shall never be a partner to a divisive coterie that design pieces and morsels of elusive peace that are thwarted to divide the great cause that we are collectively fighting for… Hmar Inpui stands resolute against the divisive communal game of Mr (chief minister) N. Biren Singh,” their statement read.

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Ethnic violence in Manipur erupted on May 3, 2023 between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community from the surrounding hills. Jiribam district had remained relatively calm until June 6 this year, despite violence in other parts of the state.

Opposition has continously targeted the ruling BJP government for not able to end the crisis.

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