An escalating situation in Manipur's Jiribam district is drawing concern as armed Kuki militants from various locations continue their determined effort to take over the district, which lies on the border with Assam. These militants, who initiated their aggressive push on May 3rd of the previous year, paused their operations during the Lok Sabha elections only to resume with increased intensity.

The situation has been highlighted by numerous videos circulating on social media, showing the militants armed and progressing into the district by both land and water routes. The visuals depict a serious escalation, with the militants openly displaying their weaponry.

Their primary target has been the Hindu Meitei community in Jiribam, aiming to dominate not only the district itself but also strategic locations like NH 37, the critical highway connecting Imphal to Jiribam. The violence escalated notably on June 6th, when the militants murdered 59-year-old Meitei farmer Soibam Saratkumar Singh, marking a brutal start to their campaign in the area. This was followed by the burning of at least 72 Meitei homes and three local police stations, signaling a clear intent to terrorize and displace the community.

Reports indicate that an increasing number of militants are now converging towards Jiribam via diverse routes, including the Jiri and Barak rivers, utilizing motorboats loaded with advanced weaponry. These groups are believed to be based in Kuki-Zo villages such as Moinathol and Bethel across the Barak River in Assam's Cachar area, where they allegedly patrol Jiribam’s neighborhoods under the cover of night.

Social media updates further suggest that multiple groups of these armed militants are also making their way along the Jiribam-Tipaimukh road, coordinating their movements towards the district with a chilling objective of purging it of the Meitei population.

In a recent surge of unrest, armed Kuki insurgents have caused significant damage to infrastructure in Jiribam, Manipur. They've destroyed several critical bridges, compromising the district's connectivity and safety. Notably, the Harinagar bridge was quickly repaired by Assam Rifles after it was targeted. However, the Goakhal and Latingkhal bridges remain dismantled. Additionally, the insurgents set fire to the Makhabosti Forest Beat, further escalating the series of destructive acts. This intensification of violence follows the recent general election results, worsening the already fragile situation in Jiribam.

The increasing danger has driven Meitei villagers, who live some distance from Jiribam's district headquarters, to abandon their homes. They have sought refuge in relief camps set up within the district's main administrative area, triggered by reports of the large influx of Kuki militants. Despite the state's efforts to reinforce security by deploying additional troops, there are currently no measures in place to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of these displaced residents to their villages.

Kuki militants ambush CM’s security convoy

The conflict escalated dramatically on June 10 when a group of Kuki militants attacked the security convoy of Manipur’s Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh. The ambush occurred along National Highway 37 near T. Laijang, close to Kotlen village in Kangpokpi district. During the incident, a 28-year-old escort driver, known as Bobo or Moirangthem Ajesh from Thanga Ngaram in the Bishnupur area, was injured. He received medical treatment at the Shija Hospitals and Research Institute in Langol, Imphal.

The assault on the convoy took place at about 10:50 am as it was en route to Jiribam, just before Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s planned visit to the district on June 11. The driver, injured by a gunshot to the right shoulder, was swiftly transported to the hospital under tight security and arrived around midday. Despite the severity of the attack, doctors confirmed that his condition was not critical. This incident occurred shortly after Chief Minister Singh returned to Imphal from New Delhi, where he had attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on the evening of June 9.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh made a point to visit the injured security personnel at the hospital, underlining the gravity of the situation and his commitment to addressing the security issues. The primary aim of his scheduled visit to Jiribam was to confront the escalating violence and work towards restoring peace in the district. In response to the ambush, Manipur police, including Commando unit members, were immediately dispatched to the location. This was followed by a joint search and rescue operation with the Assam Rifles, aimed at capturing the attackers and securing the area.

The situation intensified as insurgents also launched attacks on several police outposts and set multiple houses ablaze. These aggressive acts began around 12:30 am in Chotobekra, Jiribam, along the banks of the Barak River. The insurgents used three or four boats to execute their plan, indicating a well-organized assault. According to a police officer, the villages of Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal, and Begra in Jiribam district have been the most severely affected by these recent attacks.

Another officer stationed at a police outpost in Borobekra, Jiribam subdivision, not far from Chotobekra, reported that the militants began targeting the outpost around 2:30 in the morning. According to police sources, many hamlets along the river were also attacked. These sources confirmed footage that showed gleeful insurgents setting houses on fire as they rejoiced.

Assam Rifles step in to rescue Meiteis

The situation in Jiribam grew more tense after the body of Soibam Saratkumar Singh was discovered on June 6th. Following this, miscreants set fire to several homes, severely disrupting local law and order. In response, the Assam Rifles issued a press release stating they had taken significant steps to protect the local populace, halt the vandalism, and prevent further deterioration of the security situation. They dispatched columns to various areas and, in close cooperation with the Manipur Police, thwarted an attempt by miscreants to steal firearms from the Jiribam Police Station.

The press release also noted that Assam Rifles personnel were deployed to guard remote areas, including Phaitol and Raniveng, effectively preventing potential attacks. They successfully rescued 86 residents from the villages of Dibong Khunao, Raniveng, and Monbung, who belonged to both Meitei and Kuki communities. On June 7th, the day following these interventions, shooting commenced in the Raniveng sector of Jiribam around 5:30 pm. Assam Rifles personnel were swiftly mobilized across the region and conducted operations to prevent any further incidents. During these operations, approximately 66 residents of the Kuki community were safely evacuated. Additionally, 237 Meitei residents from the villages of Lamdaikhunao and Monbung were securely relocated to an internally displaced personnel (IDP) camp earlier that day.

On June 7th, officials reported that over 239 Meitei individuals, predominantly women and children, were evacuated from the surrounding districts of Jiribam to a newly established relief camp located at a multi-sports complex in the district. The evacuations came after prohibitory orders were issued in Jiribam, following incidents where villagers, angered by the farmer's killing, set fire to a few abandoned structures after his body was retrieved. Additionally, locals staged a demonstration in front of the Jiribam Police Station, demanding the return of their legally owned weapons, which had been impounded prior to the election.

To address the concerns of the local population and to reaffirm the ongoing efforts to maintain peace and order, the Assam Rifles collaborated with the civil administration, State Police, CRPF, and other security forces to organize a security meeting in Jiribam. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration and build confidence between the community leaders, stakeholders, and security personnel. The press release highlighted the commitment of the Assam Rifles: "The Assam Rifles remain dedicated to the safety and security of the people of Manipur and will continue to take proactive steps to maintain peace and uphold the rule of law." The release also noted that the swift actions of the Assam Rifles were crucial in mitigating further damage and loss of life, despite the challenging conditions and roadblocks erected by miscreants.

Jiribam is Rongmei Naga ancestral land: Rongmei Naga Student’s Organisation Manipur (RNSOM)

Meanwhile, the Rongmei Naga Student’s Organization Manipur (RNSOM) has responded to calls by Kuki organizations for a 24-hour closure, which started at midnight on June 10th. RNSOM countered that there would not be a complete shutdown along the NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam Road) in Rongmei Naga territory. In their statement, RNSOM clarified that the Kuki Women Union Moltam Region, Kuki Students Organization South West Sadar Hills, and Kuki Inpi South West Sadar Hills were behind the demand for the closure of Kuki-dominated areas along NH-37.

On the other hand, the RNSOM affirmed that the whole region from Imphal to Jiribam is the ancestral land of the Rongmei Naga, despite claims by the Kukis, who they referred to as "new settlers." Jeanthui Panmei, General Secretary of RNSOM, stated, "We remind every community once again that the whole stretch of land from Imphal to Jiribam is Rongmei Naga ancestral land, despite the claims made by the Kukis, who are recent settlers. Any untoward incidents arising from this shutdown will be the responsibility of the Kuki community."

According to RNSOM, NH-37 serves as a vital lifeline, traversing the heart of Rongmei land, which belongs to all the groups residing in and around Manipur. They emphasized that no group should exploit the highway for acts of terrorism and denounced the shutdown as unjustified. The organization firmly declared, "NH-37 cannot be used as a venue for any terrorist act, past, present, or future, by any group or individual."

The group also criticized the recent "barbaric indiscriminate attack" by Kuki militants that targeted state police and the security personnel of the chief minister along NH-37. They issued a warning that attacking communities that value peace while serving in the armed forces could set off a chain reaction of events and be viewed as an "open invitation to join the fights."

Declare Kuki community as a criminal tribe: Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC)

The Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) blamed Kuki militants for the recent unrest in the state. According to a press release from MIYC, Kuki militants are collaborating with central security forces to create another "Kuki Occupied Manipur" in Jiribam. They demanded that the Kuki people be designated as a criminal tribe due to their involvement in hostilities in Bangladesh as well as Manipur.

Although armed Kukis attacked Meitei homes and residents on May 3rd last year, resulting in widespread bloodshed throughout the state, Jiribam managed to maintain calm after a Peace Committee was established on May 5th of the same year. According to MIYC, Jiribam remained peaceful until June 5th, 2024. However, the murder of Soibam Saratkumar Singh shattered this peace. In the aftermath, two police outposts, a forest beat office, and more than eighty Meitei houses were set on fire. MIYC condemned the state and central security forces for their inactivity during these incidents. It charged that by financing a campaign of terrorism, the central government was using the Kuki community as a front in a proxy war in Manipur.

MIYC also brought attention to comments made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, who warned of a larger geopolitical plot aimed at destabilizing Bangladesh, Myanmar, and several northeastern Indian states, including Manipur, to create a Christian state. She urged India to act wisely against Kuki militants rather than supporting them. Sheikh Hasina remarked that the Indian government is using Kuki terrorists to further its geopolitical objectives in Myanmar, suppress the Meitei people, and erase Manipur’s historical significance as a strong sovereign state in Southeast Asia, MIYC argued.

Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) demands terrorist tag for armed Kuki groups

The Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) demanded that all armed Kuki groups be designated as terrorist outfits in response to the attack on the chief minister’s advance security convoy en route to Jiribam, which resulted in the injuries of two security personnel. The incident, according to a release from COCOMI media coordinator Y Surjitkumar Khuman, highlighted the growing tension between the state administration and Kuki terrorist organizations, exacerbated by the alleged complicity of Indian central security forces.

COCOMI voiced concerns over the inaction following an overt attack on state apparatus, describing the situation not as communal violence but as targeted aggression by Kuki terrorist groups against the state administration. Surjitkumar emphasized that Kuki propagandists have been trying to frame the violence as a communal issue since the first attacks on Meitei individuals in Churachandpur and Torbung Kangvai on May 3rd. He argued that these were not spontaneous acts but calculated maneuvers by Kuki narco-terrorists aimed at toppling the state government.

He further accused the central government of indifference during these attacks, which he claimed undermined the authority of the state government and jeopardized the safety of its residents. Surjitkumar pointed out that the failure of central forces to assist state forces in retaliation or defense against these attacks indicated the Indian state's tacit support for the Kuki groups, contrary to the interests of their own state government. This, he said, fueled further violence and instability. Surjitkumar called for a thorough investigation into the alleged protection and complicity of Indian security personnel with Kuki terrorist groups and urged the government of India to act decisively and immediately to address the situation.

Manipur government alerted thrice in January about Jiribam threats

Three letters from the state government to the Director General of Police (DGP) had been sent almost six months before Kuki-Zo militants assaulted villages and police outposts in Manipur’s Jiribam district, reported NDTV. The letters asked the senior official to increase security and take action against any threat. According to these letters, the state government repeatedly urged the DGP to maintain strict security in Jiribam and anticipate threats from the Kuki-Zo insurgents. However, the recent attacks and the exodus of residents from Jiribam, particularly the Meitei community, suggest that the government’s intelligence reports and directives have not been effectively implemented.

The first letter, dated January 15th, indicated a concerning development: "It has been reported that about 200 armed Kuki-Zo militants have moved from Churachandpur and reached Phaitol village, Old and New Kaiphundai area of Tamenglong district bordering Jiribam district." In response, the state administration instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to address any emerging threat and take necessary actions to prevent violence. They urged the DGP to implement "effective counter-measures" in this initial communication.

The urgency continued in a second letter sent on January 27th. This correspondence pressed for more comprehensive measures, including "soliciting the aid of the central forces." The letter referenced incidents of shooting reported on December 31, 2023, and January 1st and 21st of the following year, stating: "Considering reports of movement of armed miscreants from Churachandpur towards Vangai Range bordering areas of Jiribam, Director General of Police is requested to take adequate measures to pre-empt spread of the current law and order situation to Jiribam district and to take up effective counter-measures including domination of strategic locations using central/state forces." It also noted concerns about the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), hinting at their plans: "the ITLF is reportedly considering cutting off supply lines to Imphal valley via Jiribam."

A third letter, dated January 31st, was sent by the state government to both the DGP and the Security Adviser. This message alerted them to a potential threat of theft of weapons and ammunition from the 7 India Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Jiribam. These communications surfaced following a government review that came six months after initial warnings about the potential for insurgent attacks in Jiribam. This review was prompted by a request from the Biren Singh government for a detailed police report explaining why villages were targeted by these groups.

Chief Minister not part of the unified command

According to government sources, the chief minister was not included in the unified command, which comprised elements from both state and central forces. This command was established in May of last year following the start of ethnic conflict. Government sources noted that the setup should have deterred the 200 Kuki-Zo militants from heading toward the highlands that border Jiribam.

The tactics seen in the recent ambush of the police convoy and the attacks on Meitei villages in Jiribam bore clear similarities to strategies employed by suspected Kuki militants in the trading town of Moreh, which borders Myanmar. These militants targeted police within the border town and subsequently assaulted Manipur Police convoys traveling from Imphal to Moreh.

On April 17th, the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), a little-known militant group, claimed responsibility for an attack on civilian fuel trucks on National Highway 37, which occurred the previous day. During this attack, a truck driver was wounded, and the tankers leaked oil and gas. The UKNA described the assault as the "first offensive operation" against the supply of necessities and "weaponry" to Meiteis in a statement delivered to the media.

The UKNA is not a party to the tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) agreement, which is a form of ceasefire signed between over two dozen Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, the center, and the state. On May 5th, UKNA camp commander Thangminlal Haokip was shot and killed by his own security in the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district.

In response to the recent threats, about 150 police commandos were airlifted to Jiribam by the state government. Six helicopter flights were conducted to transport the commandos between Imphal and Jiribam. Meanwhile, a school in Jiribam is now sheltering around 400 Meitei community members, with some moving to nearby Assam. Additionally, at least 200 members of the Kuki tribe have sought refuge in Assam, and at least 800 people are now taking shelter in the state’s Cachar district.

Jiribam, located 220 kilometers from Imphal, had a population of 43,838 according to the 2011 census. Although Meiteis constitute a large portion of the population, the district is home to various other communities as well. The district of Jiribam is bordered by the Assam districts of Cachar, Pherzawl, and Tousem sub-divisions of Tamenglong. The territory is drained by the Jiri and Barak Rivers. Jiribam district serves as Manipur’s entry point to the West, and the Imphal-Jiribam highway is currently the sole route that can be relied upon for the reliable transit of necessities, especially in the Imphal valley. Notably, Jiribam, home to Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris, had previously remained unaffected by the ethnic strife.