On 11 November 2024, security forces in Manipur's Jiribam district killed 10 men who police said had attacked a police station and CRPF camp; Kuki-Zo-Hmar groups said they were village volunteers. Three Meitei women and three children went missing that day and were found dead days later. Mob attacks on legislators' homes in Imphal, curfew and an internet ban followed, and the political crisis ended in Chief Minister N Biren Singh's resignation and President's Rule in February 2025.
Key takeaways
- Police say 10 armed militants were killed after attacking a police station and CRPF camp in Jiribam on 11 November 2024; Kuki-Zo-Hmar bodies say they were village volunteers guarding villages.
- Three women and three children from a Meitei relief camp went missing that day; their bodies were found in the Jiri and Barak rivers from 15 November, and autopsies showed bullet wounds.
- The NIA charged three accused in the abduction case in January 2026; no public finding on the encounter has been reported.
Background: Jiribam before November
Ethnic violence between the Meitei community of the Imphal valley and Kuki-Zo groups of the surrounding hills began in May 2023. By November 2024 it had killed more than 250 people and displaced more than 59,000 Scroll DT Next/PTI.
Ethnically mixed Jiribam had been largely untouched until a farmer's mutilated body was found in June 2024 Tribune. On 7 November 2024 a 31-year-old Hmar woman, a mother of three, was killed at her home in Zairawn. The NIA said she was raped and burnt alive by "fully armed militants" ETV Bharat. Claim · Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee The tribal group blamed "Meitei terrorists" for her killing Tribune.
The 11 November encounter
Claim · Manipur Police Police said heavily armed militants coming down from nearby hills torched abandoned houses and shops in villages under Borobekra subdivision that morning, then attacked the CRPF posts at Jakuradhor and the Borobekra police station in the afternoon. Security forces returned fire, and after the firing stopped they recovered 10 bodies with arms and ammunition. One CRPF constable was shot and taken to Assam for treatment All India Radio. Early PTI reports put the toll at 11 and said two CRPF personnel were hurt Onmanorama/PTI; later official statements used 10 Tribune.
Claim · ITLF, Kuki-Zo Council, Hmar Students' Association Tribal organisations said all 10 were "Hmar Village Volunteers" engaged to protect villagers Morung Express/IANS.
Documented Autopsy reports seen by PTI found multiple bullet wounds on all 10, more than a dozen in some cases, with most shot from behind and one eye missing from four bodies. No other torture marks were recorded. Most were in camouflage or khaki dress; four bodies arrived two days after the rest, in early decomposition. Doctors kept the cause of death pending viscera analysis. One of the dead was 16 DT Next/PTI Tribune.
The abduction and the six deaths
During the attack, people sheltering at a relief camp at Jakuradhor went missing. IANS reported that 10 Meitei inmates were taken. Two elderly men were later found dead, one person was rescued, one returned on his own, and three women and three children remained missing Morung Express/IANS. The NIA said the two bodies were found inside burnt houses ETV Bharat.
Bodies were found near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers from the night of 15 November. Reports differ on the last recovery: IANS said all six were found on 15 and 16 November, while Scroll reported a sixth body found on 18 November Morung Express/IANS Scroll. Post-mortem reports on a three-year-old boy, his mother and his grandmother found bullet wounds on each, with lacerations on the child Scroll.
Claim · Meitei organisations Meitei groups said Kuki militants, some described as armed Hmar men, abducted and killed the six Morung Express/IANS Scroll. When it registered the case, the NIA described the killers as "unknown militants" EastMojo.
Timeline
Encounter and abduction
Ten killed at Jakuradhor and Borobekra; six women and children go missing. Prohibitory orders imposed in Jiribam All India Radio.
NIA takes over cases
The NIA re-registers three cases on 13 November on MHA directions ETV Bharat.
AFSPA back in six areas
The MHA reimposes AFSPA in six police station areas exempted by the state's 1 October order Tribune.
Bodies found, homes attacked
Mobs in Imphal attack ministers' and MLAs' homes; curfew and an internet ban follow Onmanorama/PTI.
NPP pulls out; protester killed in Jiribam
The NPP withdraws support from the government All India Radio. That night a young protester is shot dead in Jiribam Morung Express/IANS.
NDA resolution, coffin rally
NDA MLAs demand "mass operations" against Kuki militants Scroll. Thousands march with 10 dummy coffins in Churachandpur Morung Express/IANS.
Burial in Churachandpur
The 10, with two other Kuki-Zo men, are buried after a mass funeral The Mooknayak DT Next/PTI.
16 November: attacks on legislators' homes
Crowds attacked the homes of three ministers, Sapam Ranjan, L Susindro Singh and Y Khemchand, and six MLAs, including the Chief Minister's son-in-law, BJP MLA RK Imo, whose Sagolband house was set on fire. Protesters called for an emergency cabinet discussion and for the resignation of any minister who failed to address public concerns. Police fired tear gas at crowds marching towards Raj Bhavan and the secretariat Onmanorama/PTI.
That night, houses of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam, BJP MLAs Y Radheshyam and Paonam Brojen and Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar were partly burnt; the families were not at home. Assam Rifles, BSF and state forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to stop a crowd 100 to 200 metres from Biren Singh's ancestral house at Luwangshangbam Tribune/PTI. IANS counted more than two dozen leaders' houses and party offices attacked that weekend Morung Express/IANS.
In Jiribam on the night of 17 November, a mob attacked Congress, BJP and Shiv Sena offices and the local MLA's houses. A protester named as K Athouba was shot dead; police said who fired was under investigation, while protesters said Manipur Police commandos fired Morung Express/IANS. IANS gave his age as 21, Scroll as 25 Scroll.
Curfew, internet ban and AFSPA
Indefinite curfew was imposed in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching "due to developing law and order situation". Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi suspended mobile internet in seven districts, including the hill districts of Kangpokpi and Churachandpur, from 5.15 pm on 16 November Onmanorama/PTI. The ban was extended periodically and lifted in nine districts on 9 December, after 23 days Morung Express/IANS All India Radio.
The 14 November AFSPA notification covered Sekmai and Lamsang (Imphal West), Lamlai (Imphal East), Jiribam, Leimakhong (Kangpokpi) and Moirang (Bishnupur). Government's position The MHA said it was "to carry out well-coordinated operations by the security forces for maintaining security and containing the activities of insurgent groups in these areas" Tribune. The state cabinet asked the Centre on 16 November to withdraw it, and the Congress and many Meitei organisations opposed it Morung Express/IANS.
Both communities' accounts
Meitei groups and valley legislators
COCOMI demanded military action against militants and repeal of AFSPA in the valley police station areas Onmanorama/PTI. On 18 November, 28 NDA legislators led by Biren Singh sought "mass operations" against the Kuki militants they held responsible, asked that they be declared "an unlawful organisation" within seven days, and warned they would "decide the future course of action in consultation with the people of the state" if not Scroll. PTI reported 27 MLAs attended Deccan Herald/PTI.
Kuki-Zo-Hmar groups and tribal legislators
Ten Kuki-Hmar-Zomi MLAs called the resolution "divisive, one sided and communal" and said operations "must be conducted all over the state to recover all illegal arms from all militia groups". They said any ban must be preceded by declaring Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun unlawful Scroll. The ITLF refused burial until families had the post-mortem reports Morung Express/IANS, and ITAC sought compensation for the 10 families and the removal of the CRPF from Kuki areas Tribune.
Government's position The MHA said "armed miscreants from both communities in conflict have been indulging in violence" and that important cases had been handed to the NIA Morung Express/IANS.
Political fallout
On 17 November NPP president Conrad Sangma wrote to BJP president JP Nadda that the government "under the leadership of Shri Biren Singh has completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy". The NPP had seven MLAs; the BJP had 32 in the 60-member House and kept a majority with other allies Morung Express/IANS All India Radio.
Biren Singh resigned on 9 February 2025, a day before an Assembly session at which the Congress planned a no-confidence motion. President's Rule was imposed on 13 February and the Assembly put in suspended animation Morung Express/IANS The Hitavada.
Outcome and where cases stand
- Deaths: 10 in the encounter; six abducted women and children; two elderly men at Borobekra; one protester in Jiribam. Scroll counted at least 22 deaths statewide from 7 November Scroll.
- Arrests over the mob attacks: 41 people held for arson at legislators' homes by 24 November, per police; Biren Singh said suspects were identified Tribune/PTI.
- NIA cases: RC-13 (the 7 November killing), RC-14 (the attack on the CRPF post) and RC-15 (the Borobekra arson and abductions) EastMojo.
- Abduction case: The NIA arrested Thanglienlal Hmar, whom it called a key conspirator who ferried the victims by boat, on 31 July 2025 Outlook/PTI Northeast Now. Claim · Kuki Zo Council, Hmar Women Association They called him an "innocent boatman" and the arrests "arbitrary and discriminatory" Northeast Now. A chargesheet against three accused under the BNS and UAPA was filed on 23 January 2026, and a special NIA court took cognizance Northeast Now.
- Encounter case: No public finding on whether the 10 were attackers or village volunteers was found as of October 2026.
Questions people ask
Were the 10 killed militants or village volunteers?
Contested. Police called them militants; the ITLF, Kuki-Zo Council and Hmar groups called them village volunteers. No court or inquiry finding has been reported.
Has anyone been charged for killing the six?
Yes. The NIA filed a chargesheet against three accused on 23 January 2026, according to Northeast Now. Tribal groups dispute the arrests.
Did this lead to Biren Singh's resignation?
The NPP cited his failure to restore normalcy. He resigned on 9 February 2025, and President's Rule followed.
Where was AFSPA reimposed in November 2024?
In the Sekmai, Lamsang, Lamlai, Jiribam, Leimakhong and Moirang police station areas, by an MHA notification of 14 November.
How long was the internet off?
Mobile internet was suspended from 16 November and restored on 9 December 2024, 23 days later.
Sources
- All India Radio: 10 suspected militants killed in Jiribam encounter, 11 Nov 2024
- Onmanorama/PTI: 11 suspected militants killed in gunfight with CRPF, 11 Nov 2024
- The Tribune: AFSPA reimposed in Jiribam, 5 other parts of strife-hit Manipur, 15 Nov 2024
- Morung Express/IANS: Manipur govt urges MHA to withdraw AFSPA from six police stations, 16 Nov 2024
- Onmanorama/PTI: Protesters target houses of ministers, MLAs, 17 Nov 2024
- Onmanorama/PTI: Govt imposes curfew, shuts down internet, 17 Nov 2024
- The Tribune/PTI: Houses of 4 more MLAs torched, agitators try to storm CM's ancestral house, 17 Nov 2024
- All India Radio: NPP withdraws support to Biren Singh-led Manipur govt, 17 Nov 2024
- Morung Express/IANS: 'Failed to resolve crisis': NPP withdraws support, 17 Nov 2024
- Morung Express/IANS: Protester shot dead during clash with security forces in Jiribam, 18 Nov 2024
- Scroll: Start 'mass operation' against Kuki militants, Manipur CM, MLAs tell Centre, 19 Nov 2024
- Deccan Herald/PTI: NDA MLAs call for 'mass operation' against Kuki militants, 19 Nov 2024
- Morung Express/IANS: Tribals hold 'coffin rally' in tribute to 10 slain youths, 19 Nov 2024
- Scroll: Ten Kuki-Hmar-Zomi MLAs question resolution, 21 Nov 2024
- The Tribune/PTI: 7 more arrested for arson at legislators' residences, 24 Nov 2024
- Scroll: Meitei family members abducted from Jiribam were shot, show autopsy reports, 25 Nov 2024
- ETV Bharat: NIA re-registers three cases on Jiribam killings, 26 Nov 2024
- EastMojo: NIA begins investigation into 3 major cases after MHA directive, 27 Nov 2024
- The Tribune: 10 Kuki ultras were shot from behind, says autopsy, 5 Dec 2024
- DT Next/PTI: Many gunshots, mostly on back, killed 10 Kuki youths, reveal autopsy reports, 1 Dec 2024
- The Mooknayak: Ten Kuki-Zo tribesmen buried in Manipur, 5 Dec 2024
- Morung Express/IANS: Mobile internet service ban lifted after over 3 weeks, 9 Dec 2024
- All India Radio: Manipur govt withdraws mobile internet ban in 9 districts, 9 Dec 2024
- Morung Express/IANS: President's Rule imposed in Manipur, 13 Feb 2025
- The Hitavada: President's Rule imposed in Manipur, 14 Feb 2025
- Outlook/PTI: NIA arrests key accused in 2024 Manipur mass killing case, 31 Jul 2025
- Northeast Now: NIA arrests prime accused in 2024 Jiribam killings case, 1 Aug 2025
- Northeast Now: Tribal groups condemn NIA arrests in Jiribam killings, 2 Aug 2025
- Northeast Now: NIA Special Court takes cognizance of charge sheet in Jiribam massacre case, 30 Jan 2026