Meetei temple bombed, houses torched in Jiribam
Source: Chronicle News Service
Jiribam, June 14 2024:
Despite the presence of state forces, Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel, Kuki militants continued their assault on Meetei villages in Jiribam district.
Bhutangkhal, a Meetei village, previously targeted by militants, witnessed escalation of violence, forcing the panic-stricken residents to seek refuge in relief camps.
In the latest incident Thursday night, two houses belonging to Meetei families were set ablaze, and a temple destroyed using explosives.
This follows earlier attacks that had already displaced Meetei residents and resulted in burning down of several houses.
The situation remains tense even as authorities continue work to secure the area and provide assistance to the affected villagers.
The ongoing conflict poses severe challenges to the local communities amidst heightened tensions in the district.
According to the police, a low-grade explosion was also reported from the area.
"Two makeshift houses in that area were razed by miscreants.
Some abandoned makeshift houses and standalone homes were also burned down around 2.30 am on Friday.
The incident happened in the Bhutangkhal locality, the remotest part of the Borobekra subdivision," Jiribam superintendent of police Maharabam PS, told IANS.
Nearly 1,000 people belonging to the Meetei community in villages like Lamtai khunou, Madhupur, Loukoipung, etc, under the Borobekra subdivision have taken refuge in seven shelter camps in Jiribam town after the district witnessed violence since June 6 in the wake of the killing of 59-year-old farmer, Soibam Saratkumar Singh.
Mention may be made here that the hard earned peace maintained for over a year in Jiribam district ended on June 6 when Saratkumar, a Meetei farmer, was found killed after abduction by suspected Kuki militants.
In the aftermath of the incident, over 200 houses have been burned and around 2000 people displaced.
On the other hand, around 600 Hmar-Kuki-Zomi tribal residents of Jiribam, which abuts Assam, have crossed the inter-state border and have taken shelter in the Cachar district of the neighbouring state.
Security has been bolstered in Jiribam with six companies of the CRPF, 10 companies of the Assam Rifles, and the state police and Village Defence Forces (VDF) deployed to maintain law and order in the area.
The district administration has imposed Section 144 in the entire district.
Although several shops and business establishments were kept open on Friday in Jiribam town, few people came out of their residences as tension prevailed in the locality.
(With inputs from IANS) .