IMPHAL: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi reached Jiribam in Manipur amidst reports of fiery exchange of gunfire between unidentified gunmen and the security forces on Monday.
Reaching Jiribam, Gandhi visited a relief camp at the Jiribam Higher Secondary School and interacted with the internally displaced people in the camp, a party spokesperson told a national news agency.
Earlier in the day, hours ahead of Gandhi’s visit, reports of gunfire emerged from the Gularthal area in the district.
According to latest reports, two people from the Kuki-Zo community have been arrested in connection with the firing and some weapons have been seized from their possession.
The exchange, which began around 3:30 am and lasted until 7 am, reportedly hit one bulletproof Casspir vehicle of the state police, Superintendent of Police Jiribam, Jiribam Pradip Singh, said during a press briefing at 10 am.
Providing further details Singh affirmed that there have been no reports of any injuries.
According to the local press, the gunmen fired multiple rounds from Phaitol in the neighbouring hill district of Tamenglong towards Gularthol.
The ensuing gun battle necessitated the deployment of additional security personnel to surrounding areas as a precautionary measure.
Singh added that proper coordination between the police, CRPF and the Assam Rifles helped in neutralising the attack.
Jiribam has been on the boil since the past two months following the death one Soibam Saratkumar Singh, a 59-year-old Meitei, reportedly killed by unidentified assailants.
News of Singh’s death sparked anger among locals, leading to arson and protests in front of the Jiribam police station.
On June 8, the district administration had imposed curfew in Jiribam and its adjoining areas following multiple reports of arson and clashes.
Following the incidents of violence, a blame game had erupted between Meitei organisations and Kuki-Zo bodies, with each pointing fingers at the other for the recent surge in unrest in Jiribam.
