Manipur: On November 17, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), a prominent Kuki-Zo tribal organization, reported that at least five churches, one school, a petrol station, and 14 tribal homes were set ablaze by attackers from rival communities in Jiribam.
The ITLF condemned the destruction, noting that security forces in Jiribam failed to protect these structures despite a Supreme Court ruling aimed at safeguarding abandoned buildings amid the ongoing conflict in Manipur. The organization raised concerns over the repeated targeting of churches, claiming that over 360 have been destroyed since the onset of the ethnic conflict, suggesting a pattern of religious persecution.
The recent violence was reportedly triggered by an unprovoked attack by militants on Zairawn village, where attackers burned the village and allegedly murdered a 31-year-old woman. The ITLF criticized the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stationed nearby for not intervening during the attack, despite their regular patrols in the area.
Additionally, the ITLF reported the death of Haojoel Doungel, a 27-year-old from Pangmol village, whose body was found in Jiribam showing signs of torture, with his hands tied.
The tribal body called on the Assam government to enhance vigilance to prevent the violence from spreading into the state. They accused the Meitei-centric state government of supporting radical militant groups, which have been attacking minority Kuki-Zo civilians. The ITLF urged the central government to take action against these armed groups, which are allegedly using weapons looted from state armories to target tribal communities.
The statement emphasized that as long as these radical groups remain active, violence in the region will persist. It expressed concern that Kuki-Zo volunteers may feel compelled to arm themselves for protection. The ITLF called for a long-term political resolution and warned that if the ongoing violence is not addressed, the Kuki-Zo tribes, who have suffered greatly, may retaliate more forcefully.