Mon Nov 11 18:20:35 UTC 2024: ## 10 Suspected Kuki Insurgents Killed in Manipur Encounter, One CRPF Soldier Injured
**Jiribam, Manipur:** A fierce encounter between security forces and suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Sunday left at least 10 insurgents dead, while a CRPF soldier sustained injuries. The incident follows a series of escalating attacks in the region, raising concerns about the ongoing conflict.
The encounter began when the suspected Kuki militants launched a coordinated attack on a police station in Jiribam, bordering Assam. They reportedly targeted the station from two sides and may have also aimed to attack a nearby relief camp for internally displaced people.
According to sources, the assailants arrived in autorickshaws and, after attacking the police station, set houses on fire in a nearby settlement. Security forces retaliated, leading to a gunfight. Weapons recovered from the scene include rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and AK series assault rifles.
The injured CRPF soldier was evacuated to Silchar Medical College in Assam. CRPF reinforcements have been deployed to Jiribam in response to the incident.
Kuki civil society groups have called for a shutdown in areas under their control, protesting the deaths of individuals they refer to as “village volunteers.”
Tension in Jiribam has been high since last week, following a fresh wave of violence. On Thursday, a Hmar woman was killed and houses were set on fire by suspected Meitei insurgents. The following day, a Meitei woman was shot dead by suspected Kuki insurgents while working in a paddy field.
These recent incidents, particularly attacks during the paddy harvest season, have raised concerns about the safety of farmers and the escalating conflict in the region.
First Piper 