Violence erupts in Manipur following discovery of Meitei man's body

Violence broke out in the Jiribam district of Manipur on Thursday after the body of Soibam Sarathkumar Singh, a Meitei man, was discovered in the Mulargaon area. The local authorities imposed restrictions on gatherings under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to maintain order.

Singh was reportedly abducted by unknown assailants while returning from his farm. His family had initially only informed the police verbally about his disappearance, and a formal case was registered posthumously. The discovery of Singh's body led to heightened tensions and subsequent acts of violence.

In the wake of the incident, mobs allegedly torched several abandoned Kuki homes. Additionally, an agitated crowd surrounded the Jiribam police station, demanding the return of licensed firearms that had been temporarily confiscated during the Lok Sabha election process.

Jiribam, a region with a mixed population of Meiteis and tribal communities, had remained relatively peaceful amidst ongoing ethnic conflicts in the state. Since May 2023, clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur have resulted in at least 224 deaths and the displacement of around 60,000 individuals.

The Kuki Inpi, the main organization representing the Kuki tribe, condemned the killing of Singh and highlighted the abduction of a Kuki man by alleged Meitei militants in retaliation. The organization criticized the immediate targeting of Kuki tribals following Singh's murder, arguing that such actions risk spreading the broader Manipur crisis into the previously stable Jiribam area.

Despite curfew orders, attacks on Kuki homes continued, exacerbating fears of escalating violence. The situation underscores the fragile peace in Jiribam and the broader instability in Manipur, driven by deep-seated ethnic tensions.