The administration of Jiribam district in Manipur, bordering Cachar district of Assam, had imposed a prohibitory order with effect from Thursday night to prevent escalation of violence. Violence erupted in the district after a man identified as 59-year-old Soibam Saratkumar Singh was found dead with injuries made by a sharp object. Singh had gone to his farm on Thursday morning only to be found dead. In retaliation, locals of the deceased set fire to a handful of houses belonging to another community and thronged the police station to get their licensed firearms which they had deposited during the elections. An order issued by the district administration said, “There is a likelihood of widespread disturbance to peace and tranquillity or riot or any affray in the area described in the schedule given below of the unlawful activities of some anti-social elements for furtherance of their evil designs.” A similar order was also imposed on the entire villages in the border areas of Tamenglong and Jiribam district. The district magistrate also ordered the utilisation of available resources to avoid unwanted incidents at vulnerable areas. Jirbam district is home to different communities, including Meitei, Kuki, Naga and Muslim. While the rest of the state was marred with violence since May 3, the district remained relatively calm.
