At least 11 Kuki militants killed in encounter with CRPF in Manipur’s Jiribam district

At least 11 Kuki militants were killed in a violent encounter with CRPF personnel in Jiribam district, Manipur, on Monday afternoon. The gunfight broke out around 3:30 PM after militants launched a coordinated attack on a CRPF camp located in the district. Sources confirmed that the militants were part of insurgent groups associated with the Kuki ethnic faction. In response to the attack, the CRPF forces immediately engaged in a firefight, which lasted for several hours, ultimately resulting in the deaths of at least 11 militants. The exact number of casualties on the militant side is still being verified.

A CRPF jawan sustained critical injuries during the clash and was airlifted to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment. The CRPF camp, which was targeted in the attack, is situated in an area that has seen increasing instability due to ongoing ethnic tensions in the state. The militants reportedly launched the assault on the police station in Jiribam, where both central and state security forces are deployed. In addition to the casualties, several firearms and ammunition were recovered from the insurgents after the firefight.

The incident marks the latest escalation in a prolonged ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, which has been ongoing since May 2023. Over 200 people have lost their lives in the violence, and thousands have been forced to flee their homes. In the past several days, the situation has intensified, with a growing number of attacks on farmers in the Imphal Valley by militants based in the surrounding hill areas. These attacks have targeted farmers working in their fields, and in one instance, a 34-year-old woman farmer was gunned down on Saturday in Bishnupur district.

Jiribam, a district on the Assam-Manipur border, has become a hotspot for militant activity in recent months. The region is home to both military and relief camps, and the presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has further complicated the security situation. Authorities are investigating the motive behind Monday’s attack and are working to confirm the full extent of casualties on both sides. The situation remains fluid, and security forces are on high alert in the region.