Manipur: NIA starts probe into three cases related to killings of Meiteis, Kukis in Jiribam

Guwahati: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started investigation into three cases related to fresh violence in conflict-torn Manipur's Jiribam district in which at least 20 persons belonging to both Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities were killed since November 7.

The agency on Tuesday said it re-registered the cases on November 13 and a team visited the spots on November 21 and 22 to collect evidence related to the incidents. This followed a recommendation by the Manipur Cabinet and a subsequent notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In a statement, the NIA said the MHA decided to hand over the investigations to the agency considering the gravity of the offences, amid escalating violence in the strife-torn state and with a view to unearth the larger conspiracy behind the brutal attacks.

The first case was registered at the Borobekra police station on November 11 after several houses were burnt and two civilians were killed. Later "unknown militants" had also abducted and murdered six persons including three women and three children, NIA said.

The NIA said unknown armed militants fired towards Borobekra police station, as well as some houses and shops located at Jakuradhor Karong, and also set ablaze the latter. The police and CRPF personnel of Borobekra police station retaliated, leading to heavy exchange of fire. Subsequent search operations led to the recovery of bodies of two elderly Meitei men inside the burnt houses.

The second case is related to an attack on a CRPF post located at Jakuradhor Karong and Borobekra police stations in Jiribam by armed militants on the same day. A constable sustained bullet injuries in the attack and 10 bodies of unidentified "armed militants", along with arms and ammunition, were recovered.

The third case is related to the murder of a 31-year-old Kuki woman in Jairawn village Jiribam allegedly by Meitei armed militants on November 7, which triggered the subsequent killings and violence. The mother of three children, a teacher, was allegedly raped and burnt alive.

The Manipur government urged the Centre to hand over the cases to the NIA after Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley districts erupted in violent protests on November 16 after bodies of the three Meitei women and children were recovered from a river. Houses of at least 13 ministers and MLAs were set on fire or vandalised by protesters, who alleged that the BJP-led government failed to rescue the six.

Manipur has remained roiled in the Meitei-Kuki conflict since May last year in which nearly 240 people have been killed and over 60,000 others displaced.