Assam Heightens Security Following Manipur Violence

Silchar/Imphal- Following escalating violence in Manipur's Jiribam district bordering Cachar, Assam Police have heightened security measures along the inter-state border. Cachar District Superintendent of Assam Police, Numal Mahatta, stated that round-the-clock patrolling, including riverine patrols, is underway to prevent any unrest from spilling over into Assam.

The alert comes after a series of violent incidents in Jiribam, including the recent killing of 10 Kuki militants in an encounter with the CRPF on November 11. The incident also saw the militants abduct 10 civilians from a relief camp in Jiribam's Borobekra sub-division. Of those abducted, two elderly civilians were later found dead, while one person was rescued, and another returned to the police station. The fate of the remaining six individuals, including three children and three women, remains unknown.

This unrest has prompted some residents of Jiribam to seek refuge in Assam, though the Cachar district police chief confirmed that no large-scale migration has occurred. The police are also working closely with Manipur Police and have deployed a commando battalion to assist in maintaining security.

The Cachar Police emphasized their commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region through community engagement and heightened security measures. In a post on X, Cachar police stated, "To combat rising tensions in Jiribam(Manipur), Cachar Police intensify security efforts along the Assam-Manipur border, conducting unwavering riverine patrols from Fulertal to Tupidhar along the Barak River."

The violence in Jiribam, which has largely been spared from the 18-month-long ethnic conflict in other parts of Manipur, erupted in June following the killing of a 59-year-old farmer. This incident led to approximately 1,500 people from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities seeking shelter in Cachar district. While most have since returned, a few hundred Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals remain with relatives in Assam.

The ethnic violence between the non-tribals Meiteis and tribal Kuki-Zo broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, 2022, and has claimed over 230 lives. The conflict stems from tensions between the Meitei community, who are non-tribals, and the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal communities. The violence erupted after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

(Source- IANS)