Jibram, 17/11: The official website of Jiribam district lists poverty, low rate of literacy and unemployment as the major “social issues” in this western frontier of Manipur. Nothing surprising for a landlocked terrain which lacks industries or major infrastructure.
Though not mentioned in the website, a “social issue” of explosive nature is ripping apart the district right now: ethnic vigilante violence.
Even as large parts of the northeastern state have been plunged into vigilantism since May 2023, Jiribam was largely spared from major flare-ups. Nobody guessed it was calm before the storm.
