22-Year-Old Shot Dead as Protests Turn Violent in Manipur’s Jiribam

Jiribam, Manipur: A 22-year-old man, Kh Athouba Singh, was shot dead on Sunday night during clashes between security forces and protesters in the town of Jiribam. This marks another tragic turn in the ongoing violence that has gripped the region.

Singh, from the Meitei community, was killed amidst escalating protests that included acts of vandalism and arson near the Jiribam police station. The protests were triggered by the discovery of the bodies of six women and children, believed to be from a Meitei family who had been abducted during an attack in Borobekra, about 30 km from Jiribam. On Monday, another body, suspected to belong to the last member of this family, was recovered from the Barak River.

The violence began in early November, and Sunday night’s incident brings the death toll in Jiribam to 21 in just 11 days. Earlier, on Saturday, the body of a 27-year-old Kuki-Zo man was found in the area.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over investigations into three major incidents, including the attack on November 7, which sparked the current wave of violence. The attack on Zairawn village, allegedly by members of the Meitei community, resulted in the death of a 31-year-old Hmar woman.

Jiribam had managed to stay relatively peaceful until June this year, while the rest of the state faced violent clashes. Despite attempts to ease tensions, Jiribam has now become the epicenter of unrest in Manipur.