IT Correspondent
Jiribam, Aug 3:
Tensions flared up once again in Jiribam’s Mongbung Seijang village as the area witnessed a resurgence of heavy gunfire late last night. The incident occurred after a house belonging to a Meitei resident in the adjacent Seijang village was reportedly set ablaze, allegedly by suspected Kuki militants.
The exchange of fire between the two sides resulted in a mortar landing at the residence of Md. Sanaul Haque, a Bengali Muslim living in Lalpani Part-I. Fortunately, the mortar did not explode and there were no reports of injuries to Md. Sanaul Haque’s family.
The mortar bomb was recovered by Assam Rifles personnel from the site early Saturday morning around 10 AM.
This latest incident has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in the Jiribam region, which has witnessed periodic outbreaks of violence between ethnic communities in recent times.
In response to the latest flare-up, the Civil Society Organisations of the Bengali Muslim community in Jiribam have issued a strong appeal, urging both sides to immediately cease such acts of heavy gunfire and work towards restoring peace and normalcy in the area.
“These cycles of violence only serve to increase the suffering of ordinary people caught in the crossfire,” stated a spokesperson of All Jiribam Muslim Welfare Society, Md. Bahar Uddin. “We call upon all stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and engage in dialogue to find a lasting solution to the underlying tensions.”
The situation has escalated as communal tensions have intensified, progressing from gunfire exchanges to the use of highly explosive weapons such as mortars and bombs. Ironically, the mortar bomb that landed in the residence of Lalpani Part-1 appears to be a sophisticated weapon issued to security personnel by the government, rather than a homemade device. However, there are claims that the object in question is actually a searchlight, not a mortar bomb.
The latest incident in Mongbung Seijang has reignited concerns about the fragile communal harmony in Jiribam, underscoring the urgent need for concerted efforts by the authorities to defuse the situation and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
