Manipur’s Jiribam district has been placed under curfew following a violent encounter between suspected militants and security forces, leaving 11 individuals dead and two CRPF personnel injured. The clash, which erupted in the Borobekra area, saw militants armed with sophisticated weapons attacking a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp. This latest incident underscores the ongoing ethnic tensions that have plagued Manipur for over a year.

The Kuki-Zo Council, representing a key ethnic group in Manipur, has disputed official accounts, asserting that the deceased were “village volunteers” rather than militants. In protest, the council declared a “total shutdown” across the region on Tuesday, calling for an investigation to honor the victims and ensure justice. The shutdown, scheduled from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM, aims to express collective grief and solidarity.

The district administration swiftly responded by imposing a curfew to prevent further unrest, prohibiting residents from carrying weapons or any object that could be used as an offensive tool. Essential services are exempt, and emergency activities like funerals and weddings may proceed with prior permission.

This incident follows months of simmering ethnic conflict in Manipur, triggered last year by disputes over potential Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Hindu Meitei community. The violence has resulted in over 260 deaths and displaced more than 60,000 residents, with recent killings of individuals from both the Hmar and Meitei communities intensifying the unrest.

As Manipur faces escalating violence, several crucial questions arise: Can a government investigation bring justice and ease ethnic tensions? What measures are being taken to protect civilians in this volatile region? And how can the state’s leaders work toward a sustainable peace solution?

The answers to these pressing questions will be essential in shaping Manipur’s future stability and ending the recurring cycles of violence affecting its communities.