A CRPF soldier was killed and two police commandos were injured during an ambush in Jiribam district, Manipur, by suspected insurgents. The incident occurred while a joint patrol was on duty near the Assam border. The attackers opened fire on the patrol vehicle, leaving it with bullet holes and a shattered windshield.
Following the ambush, a combing operation was launched. The district has experienced heightened tensions recently due to clashes between the Meitei community and Hmar tribes. These clashes, which began last month, have forced hundreds of people to seek refuge in relief camps.
The violence in Jiribam has further disrupted Manipur’s transportation network, with National Highway 37, a major route connecting Imphal to Assam, passing through the area.
This incident underscores the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has been ongoing since May 2023. The conflict, fueled by demands for tribal status by the Meitei community and calls for a separate administration by the Kuki tribes, has resulted in over 220 deaths and displaced thousands.
