2 civillians dead, 6 missing in Manipur day after 10 militants were killed

Police recovered the bodies of two elderly men in Manipur's Jiribam district on Tuesday morning, following a deadly clash that saw security forces kill 10 suspected armed militants in the border area. The discovery of the bodies adds to the tension in the region, which has been plagued by violence for months.

The two deceased men, identified as Maibam Kesho Singh, 75, and Laishram Barel, 61, were both residents of Modhupur. They had been staying in a relief camp set up at the Borobekra police station after they were displaced due to widespread violence and arson in June. The bodies were found in the Jakuradhor area, where an intense gunfight erupted between security forces and suspected militants on Monday afternoon. Police confirmed that the cause of death was related to severe burns, though the exact circumstances are still under investigation.

During a search operation in the area, police rescued five other individuals who had been missing following the violence: Oinam Thonglen (45), Pebam Rajkumar Singh (65), H. Kunjo Singh (65), Longjam Manibabu Singh (58), and L. Mohini Devi (56). However, six others—including three women and three children—remain unaccounted for. The missing include Yurembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31), Telem Thajamanbi Devi (8), Laishram Heitombi Devi (25), Laishram Chingkheinganba Singh (2.5 years), and Laishram Lamnganba Singh (10 months). Authorities are actively searching for the missing individuals, fearing for their safety.

Fresh tensions emerged last week when a brutal attack left a 31-year-old mother of three from the Hmar community raped and killed in her village. This tragic event further deepened community rifts and amplified the volatile situation in Jiribam, which shares a sensitive border with Assam.

The violent incident on Monday saw 11 individuals killed, the highest number of casualties reported in a single day in Manipur this year. According to the Manipur police, the confrontation began when armed militants launched an attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) post near the Jakuradhor and Borobekra police station around 3 pm, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.

While the Manipur police referred to the deceased as "armed militants," the Hmar Students’ Association, representing the Hmar community, asserted that the individuals killed were "village volunteers." These village volunteers, who are equipped with weapons, have been guarding their communities against attacks amid ongoing intergroup conflict in the state. The association’s claim adds complexity to the situation, as many residents and local groups argue that these volunteers serve a crucial role in protecting villages from further violence.