On Sunday, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed and three others were injured when armed assailants ambushed a joint team of the CRPF and state police in Jiribam, Manipur.

Officials reported that at approximately 9:40 a.m., unknown armed individuals targeted a team from the 20th Battalion CRPF and Manipur Police. The attack occurred amidst a deteriorating security situation in the state, which has been plagued by ethnic violence since May 2023.

The attack occurred as the joint security team was heading toward Monbung village to carry out a search operation linked to a shooting incident from July 13.

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The CRPF jawan who was killed has been identified as 43-year-old Ajay Kumar Jha from Bihar. The three injured personnel include a Sub-Inspector (SI) from Jiribam Police Station, according to officials.

Prior to today’s ambush, there had been heightened tension in Jiribam in recent weeks due to conflicts between the Meitei community and the Hmar tribes.

The district had been relatively peaceful for over a year since the Meitei-Kuki ethnic clashes began in May 2023. However, violence flared up in Jiribam last month, leading to over a thousand people from both communities being displaced and living in relief camps, including some in neighboring Assam.

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