One more police OP, 2 Meitei houses burnt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 09 2024: Even as the detention of some village defenders along with arms by Central forces triggered an uproar in Jiribam, there is no respite in cases of arson in the border district with Kuki miscreants torching Leisabithol police outpost at around 9.30 last night and two houses belonging to Meetei families at Nungkhal.

It is reported that more than 500 people have been displaced in Jiribam following the onslaught by Kuki militants and their associates and they are taking refuge at different relief camps.

Notably, the unrest in already sensitive Jiribam was triggered by the murder of a Meetei civilian Soibam Sarkumar on June 6 whose post mortem will reportedly be conducted on Monday.

One more police OP, 2 Meitei houses burnt

According to credible sources, some Central forces suspected to be Assam Rifles detained a group of village defenders from Uchathol, following which a commotion broke out in the area.

The village defenders were released on seeing a large number of people especially womenfolk protesting against the detention.

It is said that the womenfolk were able to retrieve five guns from the Central forces at around 8 pm.

The report further said that another protest erupted near Jiri Keithel after Assam Rifles tried to move in and stay at a Government school campus near the keithel by setting up a bunker.

Meanwhile, armed Kuki miscreants torched Leisabithol police outpost at around 9.30 last night and shortly after two houses belonging to Meetei families were also burnt at Nungkhal.

It may be mentioned that the Kuki miscreants had also torched 72 houses and two police outposts and one Forest Beat office at Lamtaikhunou areas earlier.

Amid the tense situation in Jiribam, State security forces which were airlifted from Imphal haven't reached the vulnerable sites and interior villages of the district.

Jiri News Network (JNN), on the other hand, reported that the State commandos haven't reached Borobekra Sub-Division as of yet but some CRPF personnel have arrived at the area this evening.

It is reported that the JAC formed in connection with the murder of Soibam Saratkumar blocked National Highway 37 at Sorok Atingbi Khunou by place tree branches and heavy objects in the middle of the road today.

Ex Adhakshya Kh Janaki Devi also came out to the protest site and she reportedly dialled Chief Minister N Biren who is at Delhi and talked with him in front of the protesters.

The Chief Minister reportedly told Janaki that he will surely come to Jiribam and do whatever he can to address the grievances of the people of Jiribam.

Later in the evening at around 4, the JAC formed in connection with the murder of Soibam Saratkumar reached an agreement with the Government after holding a meeting at Jiribam police station with Jiribam DC and other top ranking officials.

The terms of the agreement were to arrest the people involved in killing Saratkumar within two weeks, provide ex-gratia and a Government job to one of his family members and to conduct the autopsy on June 10 and perform the last rites.