Gunbattle in Manipur leaves 11 militants dead; curfew imposed

New Delhi, Nov 11: In a gunbattle between security forces and militants on Monday, 11 militants were killed in Jakurador, a remote area in Borobekra sub-division of Jiribam district in Manipur, Assam Tribune quoting officials.

According to the Assam Tribune, the coordinated attack by heavily armed militants resulted in a prolonged exchange of gunfire, during which one CRPF jawan sustained serious injuries.

The encounter erupted around 2:30 pm when militants, equipped with weapons and dressed in camouflage uniforms, launched an attack on multiple fronts. They first targeted the Borobekra police station with a barrage of gunfire before advancing towards Jakurador Karong, where they set several shops ablaze and launched an assault on a CRPF camp. "Preliminary reports suggest that 11 militants were killed during the crossfire, while one CRPF jawan was injured," a police official told the Assam Tribune.

The intensity of the attack led to damage in the area. Militants carried out acts of arson, targeting local establishments and causing panic among residents. Following the firefight, security forces recovered the bodies of the dead militants, which have since been taken to the Borobekra police station for identification and further investigation.

In the aftermath of the attack, it was reported that five civilians were missing. Authorities have yet to determine if these individuals were abducted by the fleeing militants or are in hiding due to the violence.

An extensive search operation has been launched to locate the missing civilians, with security forces intensifying their efforts to secure the area and prevent further escalation.

The district administration imposed a curfew across Jiribam. In an official statement, the administration cited concerns over potential disruptions to public order and the risk of riots, indicating that the curfew would remain in effect until further notice.

Manipur has been gripped by ethnic and insurgent violence for decades. The recent escalation of violence, including this latest attack, is part of a broader pattern of unrest in the region. Clashes between armed groups, often involving ethnic insurgents and state security forces, have intensified over the past year.

The violence in Manipur has its roots in complex ethnic tensions between the Meitei, Naga, and Kuki communities, exacerbated by the presence of multiple insurgent groups.