Imphal: Non-locals residing in the adjoining villages of Tamenglong and Jiribam districts in Manipur were forced to flee their homes by armed miscreants on Thursday night, sources said on Friday.
Fearing for their lives, a group of non-locals sought refuge at safer locations in the Jiribam district headquarters on Friday, official sources said.
The armed individuals, suspected to be Kuki miscreants, reportedly descended from the Mongbung hill ranges in Tamenglong district and ordered the non-locals to vacate their villages.
Numerous non-locals reside in Mongbung village in Tamenglong district, as well as in Saiyang and Lalpani villages in Jiribam district. These villages collectively host around 17 houses belonging to non-locals.
Following the eviction orders, gunfire was reported in the villages of Mongbung and Seijang around 8 pm on Thursday, during rainfall. Additional gunfire was heard at around 9 pm and 12:10 am on Friday, official stated.
Local villagers lodged a complaint with the Jiribam police station on Friday regarding these incidents.
The Assam Rifles and state forces are currently maintaining a close watch on these villages. Local volunteers from the Meitei community are also guarding the area amidst the ongoing ethnic violence, the report added.
Peace in Jiribam was disrupted on June 6, 2024, when a Meetei farmer was killed by Kuki militants. Subsequently, around 150 houses, predominantly owned by Meetei residents, were burned, and nearly 2,000 people, mostly Meetei, were displaced.
This is the first instance of non-locals fleeing their residences in the district since the incident on Thursday night.
Police said that adequate security measures are being implemented, and efforts are underway to control the situation at any cost.