Sat Nov 16 18:30:56 UTC 2024: ## Manipur Violence Escalates as Mob Attacks Chief Minister’s Residence

**Imphal, Manipur –** Tensions exploded in Manipur on Saturday as a large mob protesting the deaths of six hostages from Jiribam attempted to storm the residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Security forces responded with tear gas to disperse the angry crowd, marking another significant escalation in the ongoing violence plaguing the state.

The protests followed the grim discovery of the bodies of six missing individuals, including an eight-month-old infant, recovered from a Manipur river on Friday. These family members had disappeared after violence erupted on Monday, which saw ten armed Kuki men killed in a gunfight with security forces. This incident follows the brutal burning alive of a 31-year-old Hmar woman last week in Jiribam district.

Frustrated by what they perceive as government inaction and lack of communication, the mob gathered in Imphal demanding to meet with lawmakers. Earlier in the day, protesters attacked the homes of at least three state ministers and six MLAs, prompting the government to impose indefinite prohibitory orders in five districts and suspend internet services in affected areas.

In a significant development, the Manipur government has appealed to the central government to review and withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), a controversial law granting extensive powers to the armed forces, which was recently reimposed in six police station areas. The reimposition of AFSPA followed the recent surge in violence.

Since May 2022, inter-communal clashes, fueled by disputes over government grants, job quotas, and educational opportunities, have claimed at least 250 lives and displaced over 60,000 people. The conflict has effectively carved Manipur into two ethnic enclaves: a Meitei-controlled valley and Kuki-dominated hills. The central government has deployed additional security forces and pledged to take strong action against perpetrators of violence from both communities. However, Saturday’s events demonstrate the continued fragility of the peace and the deep-seated anger among the protesting populace.

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