Aakhir Tak – In Shorts:
- Two elderly men were found burned to death, and six civilians, including three women and three minors, are missing in Jiribam, Manipur.
- The missing individuals were last seen as one family, according to local sources.
- Police have launched a search operation to trace the missing people, with additional forces deployed.
- Purported images of the missing individuals are circulating online, though unverified by the police.
- A full shutdown has been declared in five districts in response to the abduction fears.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth:
The recent violence in Manipur’s Jiribam district has escalated tensions across the state. In this tragic incident, two elderly men from the Meitei community were found burned to death, while six other individuals, reportedly from the same family, have gone missing. The missing civilians include three women and three children, sparking serious concerns among the locals.
The ‘Jiri Apunba Lup,’ a leading Meitei organization in Jiribam, confirmed that the missing individuals belong to a single family. This has prompted significant unease, and authorities have now deployed Assam Rifles, CRPF, and civil police to fortify security in the area.
Police officials are actively working to trace the missing people. “This is a tragic incident, and our forces are making every effort to locate the missing women and children,” stated a senior police official.
On Monday, armed militants attacked the Jiribam police station and a nearby CRPF camp. In this encounter, 10 Kuki militants were killed, and a CRPF personnel was injured, requiring evacuation for medical treatment. IGP Operations, IK Muivah, detailed that the attackers wielded sophisticated weaponry, including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), AK-series rifles, INSAS, and SLRs.
The authorities, aiming to protect civilians, tried to minimize the use of force, yet had to retaliate in response to the heavy weaponry of the assailants. “While we avoid firing, retaliation is inevitable when faced with such lethal arms,” Muivah added.
Following the incident, five districts in Manipur observed a total shutdown, called by 13 local organizations. This shutdown, which began at 6 pm, will continue for 24 hours, impacting schools, colleges, markets, and transportation.
