Two empty farm houses set ablaze in Manipur's Jiribam

Two abandoned farm houses belonging to the Hilghat gram panchayat head were set on fire in Manipur's Jiribam, police officials said on Sunday. Suspected militants carried out the attacks using guns and bombs in a village, leading to a gunfight between the CRPF personnel and Manipur Police.

A police officer said the incident took place in the Nungkhal area late on Saturday night when the two farm houses belonging to L Somorendro were set on fire by suspected militants.

Senior police officers accompanied by additional forces visited the Nungkhal area on Sunday and investigated the incident. The violence was reported days after talks were held between MLAs of the warring Meitei and Kuki communities in New Delhi in a bid to hammer out a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict.


Manipur witnessed several fresh incidents of violence since September 1, leaving at least 12 people, including two women, elderly persons and a retired soldier, dead and over 20 others injured. Of the 12 deaths, six were killed in Jiribam, inhabited by people from different communities.

Manipur has witnessed repeated incidents of arms loot since May 3 last year. At least 226people have been killed, 1,500 injured and 60,000 displaced since violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities on May 3 last year.

The riots began after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.