Imphal: A prominent Meitei community organization has accused a legislator from Manipur’s Jiribam district of providing weapons to individuals involved in the state’s ongoing ethnic violence.
The allegations, made by Jiri Apunba Lup, the apex Meitei body in Jiribam, claim that the MLA actively supported violent elements in the region.
In a statement released on March 20, the organization asserted that the legislator had played a direct role in fueling unrest. “The MLA organized many meetings… supporting miscreants with monetary help, war gear, and accessories. But the Muslims want to live peacefully with the Meiteis. So his plan failed,” the statement read.
The accusations come at a time when Manipur remains engulfed in a prolonged ethnic crisis between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities. Since the outbreak of violence in May 2023, more than 250 people have lost their lives, and thousands have been displaced. The ongoing unrest led to federal intervention last month, culminating in the imposition of President’s Rule on February 13, following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Although the state assembly remains intact, it has been placed under suspended animation.
Jiribam, a strategically located district on Manipur’s western border with Assam, has not been spared from the conflict. Tensions in the area have mirrored the broader unrest affecting the northeastern state, as security forces continue efforts to stabilize the situation. The allegations against the MLA add a new dimension to the crisis, raising concerns about political complicity in the violence.