Manipur Unrest: Bodies Found in Barak River
The unrest in Manipur escalates as two bodies, including a woman and a young girl, were discovered in the Barak River in Cachar District. This shocking incident follows recent mob violence, raising concerns about safety and security in the region.
NATIONAL
Manipur's spiraling unrest deepened on Sunday with the discovery of two bodies—an unclothed woman and a young girl—floating in the Barak River in Assam's Cachar district. These grim findings came mere hours after the mob violence in Manipur, where six corpses, suspected to belong to missing individuals from a relief camp in Jiribam, were found.
The bodies were recovered at Chirighat and Singerband III and had been stuffed into gunny sacks, prompting shock and outrage across the region. The Cachar Superintendent of Police, Numal Mahatta, confirmed that the bodies were sent for autopsy at Silchar Medical College and Hospital.
Adding to the mayhem, the homes of 13 MLAs, including nine from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were vandalized or set ablaze by mobs across the Imphal valley. Among the targeted properties were the ancestral house of BJP MLA Kongkham Robindro in Imphal West, attacked on Sunday evening, and homes belonging to PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam and Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar.
The violence, which appeared to abate briefly, reignited with protesters demanding to meet Robindro, culminating in another assault on his property. In response to these attacks, police imposed an indefinite curfew in several districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur, while suspending internet services to curb the spread of inflammatory content.
Security forces, including the Army, Assam Rifles, and CRPF, have been conducting flag marches to restore order. Meanwhile, 23 individuals have been arrested for involvement in arson and vandalism. Seized items include firearms, ammunition, and mobile devices.
The violence traces back to November 7, when armed intruders allegedly raped and killed a tribal woman in Jiribam, igniting hostilities. Subsequent clashes resulted in the deaths of 10 alleged militants and heightened tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum reported the destruction of five churches, a school, and several homes in Jiribam over the weekend.
Family members of the six missing from the Jiribam relief camp identified the victims and accused tribal militants of their murder. These killings and acts of violence underscore the deep-seated ethnic divides that continue to plague Manipur, a state grappling with instability since May 2023.
Efforts to mediate peace remain a pressing need as authorities work to contain the escalating violence.