Manipur: Tribal homes and churches torched in Jiribam, alleges ITLF

Imphal: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Sunday night alleged that at least five churches, a school, a petrol pump, and 14 homes belonging to tribals in Jiribam were torched by attackers from a rival community on Saturday night.

The ITLF condemned the destruction of these structures and accused the security forces stationed in Jiribam of failing to protect them, despite a Supreme Court order to safeguard buildings abandoned due to the ongoing conflict in Manipur.

The tribal body raised concerns over the repeated targeting of churches, claiming that over 360 churches had been destroyed since the start of the ethnic conflict in the region, leading them to question whether this was part of a religious war.

The latest wave of violence began with an unprovoked attack by militants on Zairawn village in Jiribam. The ITLF claimed that a combined force of radical groups burned the village and brutally murdered a 31-year-old woman during the attack. Despite the presence of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel near the village, the security forces reportedly refused to intervene, remaining in their camp throughout the attack without taking any action to stop the assailants.

In addition to the burning of the village, the ITLF stated that a 27-year-old man, Haojoel Doungel, a native of Pangmol village in Tamenglong district, was killed by the radical group on the same night. His body was found on Sunday in Jiribam, with signs of torture and his hands tied.

The ITLF has urged the Assam government to remain vigilant and prevent the violence from spilling over into their state. They also accused the Meitei-centric state government of supporting radical outfits, which they allege are targeting Kuki-Zo civilians with increasing frequency. The tribal body called on the central government to take action against these militant groups, who are reportedly armed with weapons looted from state armouries and actively seeking opportunities to attack tribal settlements.

The statement emphasized that unless these armed radical groups are disbanded, the violence in Manipur will persist. It further argued that the Kuki-Zo tribal volunteers, in the absence of adequate protection, are forced to arm themselves to defend their land and families.

The ITLF called on central authorities to clamp down on the radical groups, asserting that once the attacks on tribal people cease, violence in the region will diminish. They also highlighted the need for a long-term political solution to the ongoing crisis.

The statement concluded by noting that every round of violence in the past year had been instigated by attacks from rival communities on tribals. If the current situation continues unchecked, the Kuki-Zo tribes, who have borne the brunt of the violence, may be forced to retaliate with greater force.

With IANS inputs