Representatives from the Meitei community and the Hmar tribe held a peace meeting in Manipur’s Jiribam district today, agreeing to work towards restoring normalcy nearly two months after ethnic violence impacted the region bordering Assam.

The meeting, held at the CRPF group centre, was moderated by the district commissioner and senior officers from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Assam Rifles (AR). In a jointly signed statement, the representatives from both communities pledged to make full efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of arson and firing.

Both sides agreed to cooperate with security forces in Jiribam and ensure controlled and coordinated movement of people. They also decided that another meeting will be held after August 15 to continue the dialogue.

Representatives from the Paite, Thadou, and Mizo tribes living in Jiribam also participated in the meeting.

Jiribam, located 250 km from the state capital Imphal, had remained peaceful for over a year since Meitei-Kuki ethnic violence began in May 2023. However, clashes erupted in the district in June, forcing over a thousand people from both communities to seek refuge in relief camps, some of which were in neighboring Assam.

On July 14, a CRPF soldier was killed in action after a joint patrol with the state police was ambushed by “suspected Kuki insurgents” in Jiribam, according to a statement from the Manipur Police.

Hmar civil society groups have alleged that Meitei insurgents have been attacking their villages in Jiribam.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated in the assembly that the violence has resulted in 226 deaths and 59,000 people being internally displaced.