Fresh Violence in Manipur's Jiribam District Leaves Three Dead After Rocket Attacks

At least three people were killed in fresh ethnic violence in Manipur's Jiribam district, following rocket attacks in Bishnupur. The conflict, ongoing for over 17 months, has escalated in recent days with militants using drones and rockets, prompting the closure of educational institutions and continued clashes between Kuki and Meitei communities.

Manipur continues to witness escalating ethnic violence, with the latest incident in Jiribam district claiming the lives of at least three individuals. The fresh violence erupted just a day after militants launched rocket attacks in Bishnupur, killing an elderly man and injuring five others. Security forces have warned that the death toll could rise as clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities intensify.

The conflict, ongoing for over 17 months, took a deadly turn in recent days as militants employed new tactics, including the use of drones and rockets. This marks the first known use of rockets in the state's ethnic clashes. Security officials revealed that the militants used long-range rockets, likely improvised with galvanized iron pipes filled with explosives. The sophistication of these attacks suggests militants have been practicing these techniques during the previous months of relative calm.

The situation in Manipur has been particularly tense in the last five days, with ongoing gunfights and attempts by mobs to loot weapons from security forces. On Friday night, mobs in Imphal attempted to breach the headquarters of the 2 Manipur Rifles and 7 Manipur Rifles but were stopped by security personnel.

In response to the escalating violence, the Manipur government has ordered all educational institutions to remain closed on Saturday. Despite efforts to restore peace, the ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities show no signs of abating, leaving the region in a state of turmoil.