Violence Erupts In Manipur Over Jiribam Family Death: What Is Centre's Response?

Tensions in Manipur have escalated after six members of a Meitei family, including three children, were allegedly abducted from a relief camp and killed by suspected militants in the Jiribam district. The headless body of a two-year-old boy and his 65-year-old grandmother were recovered from a river on November 17. Two days ago, the boy's eight-month-old sibling, his aunt, and her eight-year-old daughter were found dead. The boy's mother is yet to be found. 

Manipur Tensions: Women, Children Allegedly Killed

Laishram Herojit, a relief camp inmate from Jiribam, told NDTV that six of his family members were taken hostage at gunpoint by suspected Kuki militants on November 11 during a confrontation with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Borobekra, Jiribam, about 220 km from Imphal.

On November 17, Hirojit confirmed that his family had been executed, according to government sources. Assam Police found his son, L Chingheinganba's headless body wedged between broken tree branches in the Barak River. A disturbing photograph of the child's body was shared online.

Hirojit's mother-in-law Y Rani Devi's semi-naked body was found floating face down. Earlier, on November 15 at 7.30 pm, three bodies were brought to a hospital morgue in Silchar, Assam. The victims were Herojit's eight-month-old baby, his wife’s sister, and her eight-year-old daughter.

Father's Appeal Days Before Their Death

Hirojit's wife's body is yet to be recovered. Before his family's death, he had appealed in an NDTV interview for the safe return of his family. "They are all innocent. My two children cannot even speak yet. The elder one has just started to speak. Please release them unhurt and hand them over to the family."

Truly heart breaking 💔

Listen to Laishram Herojit whose wife, 2 children, mother-in-law and wife's sister are among the 6 individuals abducted by #KukiHmar Terrorists.

One has to be a devil, and not just terrorists, to abduct small children and women. #KukiWarCrimes… pic.twitter.com/CA11KsvBau

— Meitei Heritage Society (@meiteiheritage) November 13, 2024

Hirojit, a low-level government worker also said that he got a call from his wife when shooting and arson broke out in Jiribam's Borobekra on the day of the abduction. The call got disconnected and when he dialled her back, he found the phone was switched off. His mother-in-law was also unreachable.

"She was crying on the phone and said they were surrounded by a lot of armed people. The call got disconnected, after which I called her back, but the mobile was switched off... About an hour later - we had been searching for a while - a friend of my wife told us she saw them being taken away in a boat."

Violence Breaks Out

The violence in the region has worsened since the news of the family's death broke out. On November 16, mobs vandalised and set fire to vehicles and property, including the homes of several BJP leaders. A mob also attempted to storm Chief Minister N Biren Singh's residence in Heingang while he was not home.

The National People's Party, an NDA ally, reportedly withdrew support from the BJP-led government in Manipur as violence continued to spread, saying CM Biren Singh had "failed completely" in arresting the state's descent into a
spiral of ceaseless violence since the ethnic strife erupted in May 2023.

The National People's Party today decided to withdraw its support from the Manipur coalition government.

NPP National President and HCM Shri. @SangmaConrad in a letter to the President of BJP Shri. @JPNadda ji informed that by witnessing the deterioration of law pic.twitter.com/FGo3RCxdkz

— National People’s Party (NPP) (@nppmeghalaya) November 17, 2024

Meanwhile, members of the Meitei community held candlelight vigils in various cities across India to draw attention to the situation in Manipur. Meitei civil society organisations called a shutdown in Imphal and other valley areas to protest against the attacks. Internet services have been halted in some districts.