Imphal: Renewed violence has rocked Manipur‘s Jiribam district, displacing residents and causing widespread property damage.
According to the Manipur Fire Service Head Office in Imphal, at least 72 houses belonging to the Meitei community were burned down across four villages in the past 24 hours.
The attacks, suspected to be carried out by armed militants, also targeted three government buildings. A police outpost in Chotobekra, and forest offices in Gaokhal and Jiribam were all gutted in the fires.
Journalist RK Chandrasan, a correspondent for North East Window and Jiri News Network, was among those affected. Her residence in Bhurankhal village was reportedly torched late Thursday night.
Lamtai Khunou village suffered the most significant damage, with 65 houses destroyed. The remaining burned houses were located in Modhupur (5) and Harinagar (1).
Officials are still assessing the full extent of the damage, including lost valuables and property documents. The ongoing communal tensions in the border district are hampering efforts, with reports citing a tense atmosphere.
This incident comes amidst a larger cycle of violence that has gripped Manipur since May 2023.
According to government figures, as of May 3, 2024, the unrest has displaced over 60,000 people and resulted in the destruction of 4,786 houses and 386 religious structures.
The violence has claimed the lives of 221 individuals, with over 1,000 reported injured and 32 missing.
The violence is believed to have originated in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.