Additional CRPF deployed in Jiribam district

way2barak, June 16 : As the tension still prevailing in the mixed-population Jiribam district, additional CRPF troops have been deployed in the interior areas of Borobekra Sub Division of the district to maintain peace and tranquility in the areas, officials said on Sunday.

The Borobekra Sub Division of the Jiribam district, adjoining southern Assam, had been badly affected after the killing of 59-year-old farmer Soibam Saratkumar Singh on June 6.

Around 9,000 tribals belonging to the Kuki and Hmar community after the Jiribam violence took shelter in two villages – Haokippunji and Hmarkhawlienin in Cachar district of southern Assam, where they have taken refuge in the homes of relatives and friends.

The Jiribam district administration on Sunday distributed cooking gas cylinders and other necessary items to the families taking shelter in the seven relief camps, where around 1,000, mostly belonging to the Meitei community, have taken shelter after the violence.

Officials in Imphal said that the district health officials have been giving healthcare services round the clock to the villagers.

The Education Department has also started classes from class one to eight standard for around 100 children taking shelter in the camps at the Bidyanagar Multipurpose Sports Complex in the district headquarters.

A headmaster and 23 teachers were posted in the temporary school. Text books and note books to the students have already been provided. Similar temporary schools will also be set up nearby the relief camps as and when necessary.

Movement of goods laden trucks and LPG bullet tanks has commenced along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) from Saturday under the protection of a CRPF convoy.

Tension still prevails in the mixed-population Jiribam district inhabited by Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, Muslims and non-Manipuris, where a wave of violence broke out after the killing of Saratkumar Singh, who belonged to the Meitei community.

A senior police official said that two police checkposts, a forest beat office, and at least 100 houses were set afire in Jiribam by attackers on June 7 and 8.

Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has demanded an immediate end to the ethnic crisis in Jiribam district, which has led to the displacement of about 1600 people.

A meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Manipur Congress was held on Saturday at Congress Bhawan, chaired by state Congress President K. Meghachandra Singh.

The PAC resolved to appeal to the central and state governments to control the situation in Jiribam district immediately, a Congress leader said on Sunday.