Curfew imposed, internet suspended in 7 Manipur districts after 6 found dead

Large-scale violence was reported in parts of Manipur's Imphal Valley districts as mobs stormed the residences of local MLAs and destroyed property in protest against the killing of three women and three children in Jiribam district.

In Short

• 6 people kidnapped allegedly by militants after shootout on Monday
• Their bodies found in Jiribam, sparking widespread protests in Manipur
• Mobs storm MLAs' homes in Imphal, curfew imposed in 7 districts

A curfew was imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East in violence-hit Manipur and internet services were suspended in seven districts as fresh protests erupted in the Valley districts against the killing of six people, whose bodies were found in Jiribam after they were kidnapped allegedly by militants.

Internet was suspended in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts for two days given the current situation in the northeastern state. Large-scale violence was reported in parts of the Imphal Valley districts as mobs stormed the residences of several MLAs and destroyed property.

A group of people attacked Sapam Nishikant Singh's home and destroyed the gate and bunkers built in front of the gate. The same mob stormed MLA RK Imo's home in Sagolband in Imphal West district and burnt furniture and shattered windows.

Protests were witnessed in Imphal's Khwairamband Keithel over the kidnapping and murder of six people - three women and three children. Their bodies were found near a river in the remote village of Jirimukh in Jiribam district along the Manipur-Assam border on Friday evening, sources said on Saturday.

The bodies were brought to Assam's Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) on Friday night and kept at the hospital's morgue for postmortem.

The three women and three children who lived in a relief camp went missing after a gunfight between security forces and militants in Jiribam district on Monday, with Meitei organisations alleging that they were kidnapped by militants.

On November 11, a group of militants attacked a police station in the Borobekra area, but the assault was thwarted by security forces, resulting in the deaths of 11 militants. While retreating, the militants allegedly kidnapped three women and three children from a relief camp near the police station.

A massive search operation was underway to trace them.

The state government had already declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Saturday.

Tensions in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities for more than one-and-a-half years, spiked recently with multiple incidents of violence. Ethnically diverse Jiribam, which had largely remained untouched by the clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, experienced violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June.

On Thursday, the Centre reimposed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur's six police station areas, including Jiribam. The Union Home Ministry asserted that the decision was taken in light of the "continuous volatile situation" due to the ongoing ethnic violence.

Reacting to the issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his X post urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the conflict-ridden region and work towards restoring peace.

More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic clashes between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups in the northeastern state since May 3 last year.

(with inputs from PTI.)