A village in Manipur's Jiribam district came under militant attack early this morning, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire between the attackers and security forces, officials said. The incident occurred just days after peace talks were held in New Delhi between MLAs from the Meitei and Kuki communities to resolve the ongoing ethnic conflict in the state.
Militants armed with sophisticated weapons launched the attack near Borobekra police station at around 5 a.m. The attackers also used bombs during the assault. Security forces, including personnel from the CRPF and local police, retaliated, leading to a heavy exchange of fire. Additional security reinforcements were deployed to the area.
No casualties have been reported so far, according to the official. Security forces were evacuating elderly residents, women, and children to safer locations as the violence unfolded.
Borobekra, situated approximately 30 km from Jiribam town, is in a remote, mountainous region surrounded by dense forests. This area has witnessed repeated attacks since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May of last year.
The latest violence comes in the wake of ongoing efforts to broker peace between the Meitei and Kuki communities, who have been embroiled in conflict for months.