New Delhi: Fresh violence erupted in Manipurs Jiribam district just a day after the Meitei and Hmar communities reached an agreement to restore peace. On Friday night, an abandoned house in Lalpani village was set ablaze, and shots were fired, causing renewed tensions in the area, officials reported on Saturday.The targeted house in Lalpani was part of an isolated settlement of Meitei homes, most of which had been abandoned due to previous violence. Miscreants, who are yet to be identified, exploited security lapses to commit the arson, an official stated. The armed men also fired multiple rounds of shells and gunshots at the village.Immediate security responseFollowing the incident, security forces were promptly deployed to the area to prevent further violence. Authorities are working to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.Recent peace agreementThe violence came just a day after representatives from the Meitei and Hmar communities reached a peace agreement at a CRPF facility in Assams Cachar district. The meeting, moderated by Jiribam district administration, Assam Rifles, and CRPF personnel, also included representatives from the Thadou, Paite, and Mizo communities.In a joint statement issued and signed by all participating communities, it was resolved that both sides would make concerted efforts to restore normalcy and prevent incidents of arson and firing. Both sides shall give full cooperation to all security forces operating in Jiribam district and facilitate controlled and coordinated movement, the statement read.Background of ethnic violenceSince May last year, over 200 people have been killed, and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic clashes between the Meiteis, based in Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo groups from the adjoining hills. The recent agreement was seen as a significant step towards peace, but the latest incident underscores the fragile nature of the situation.
