Sat Nov 16 08:14:15 UTC 2024: ## Manipur Protests Erupt After Bodies Found Near Assam Border
**Imphal, Manipur –** The discovery of three bodies in a river on the Assam-Manipur border has sparked widespread protests in Imphal, Manipur’s capital. The bodies, found Friday night near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers, are suspected to be those of three individuals—a woman and two children—abducted on November 11th. These individuals were among six people, including children, who disappeared following a security forces operation that killed ten gunmen. Kuki-Zo organizations claimed the deceased gunmen were “village volunteers.”
Protests, primarily led by Meira Paibis (women’s groups), erupted Saturday, with demonstrators blocking roads and bringing parts of Imphal to a standstill. Businesses closed due to anticipated prolonged unrest. The state government responded by increasing security around key locations, including the Raj Bhavan and the residences of government officials, and declared a holiday for schools and colleges.
The six missing individuals were residents of a relief camp in Jiribam. Meitei organizations accuse Kuki-Zo extremists of their abduction. Police have launched a search operation.
The incident adds to the ongoing ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups, which has claimed over 250 lives and displaced approximately 60,000 people since May 3, 2023. While Jiribam had largely remained unaffected, recent violence has heightened tensions. The current unrest underscores the fragile peace in the region and the deep-seated ethnic divisions fueling the conflict.
First Piper 