Within 24 hours of the peace agreement between the Meitei and Hmar communities to restore peace in Jiribam, Manipur, violence has erupted once again. Tension-creating incidents have come to the fore just a day after the agreement was signed between the Meitei and Hmar communities. On one hand, firing took place and an empty house was set on fire, while on the other hand, firing was also reported. Officials gave this information on Saturday. They said that an empty house in Lalpani village was set on fire by armed men on Friday night.
Fire set in an empty house
An official said, “This incident took place in a completely different colony where some people of the Meitei community have their houses and most of these houses have been lying vacant since the violence broke out in the district. The miscreants took advantage of the absence of security personnel in the area and committed arson. The miscreants could not be identified.” He said that the armed men also fired bullets targeting the colony. After the incident, security forces were sent to the area.
The agreement was reached on Thursday
The agreement was reached between representatives of the Meitei and Hmar communities at a meeting held at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) establishment in Cachar, Assam on Thursday. The meeting was conducted by the Jiribam district administration, Assam Rifles and CRPF, and representatives of the Thadou, Paite and Mizo communities of Jiribam district were also present. A joint statement issued by the representatives of these communities said, “It was resolved in the meeting that both sides will make every possible effort to restore normalcy and prevent incidents of arson and firing.
Both sides will extend full cooperation to all security forces operating in Jiribam district.” The next meeting will be held on August 15. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Jo groups since May last year.
