“Fresh Violence Erupts in Jiribam After Peace Pact”

Fresh violence broke out in Jiribam, Manipur, just a day after a peace agreement was made to calm tensions between the Meitei and Hmar communities, officials said on Saturday. On Friday night, armed men fired shots and set fire to an abandoned house in Lalpani village. The house, which belonged to Meiteis, had been deserted due to previous violence. The attackers took advantage of security lapses to commit arson, further escalating tensions in the area.

In addition to the arson, the attackers fired multiple rounds of shells and gunshots at the village. Security forces were quickly dispatched to the scene in response to the incident, highlighting the ongoing instability despite efforts to restore peace. The violence came shortly after representatives from the Meitei and Hmar communities had reached an agreement during a meeting held at a CRPF facility in Assam’s Cachar on August 1. The meeting, moderated by the Jiribam district administration and personnel from Assam Rifles and CRPF, also included representatives from the Thadou, Paite, and Mizo communities.

During the meeting, all parties agreed to work together to bring about normalcy and prevent further incidents of arson and firing. They committed to facilitating controlled and coordinated movements to ensure peace and stability. Another meeting is scheduled for August 15 to discuss further steps to maintain peace. Despite these efforts, the recent violence underscores the challenges in achieving lasting peace in the region. More than 200 people have been killed, and thousands have been displaced due to ethnic violence between the Meiteis from the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups from the surrounding hills since May last year. The agreement on August 1 was seen as a significant step towards reconciliation, but the latest incident in Jiribam highlights the fragility of the situation and the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to prevent further violence.