Curiosity and concern enveloped the Banskandi area of Cachar district on Sunday following the discovery of two more bodies, including a woman and a minor, floating in the Barak River near Chirighat, about 45 minutes from Silchar.
The incident prompted Cachar SP Numal Mahatta to swiftly secure the scene and arrange for the bodies to be transported to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examinations. The identities of the deceased fueled public speculation, with many questioning if there was a link to the recent abduction of six individuals from Manipur’s Jiribam region.
This grim discovery comes on the heels of finding three bodies, including a woman and two children, in the Jiri River on November 16. Those bodies were believed to be three of the six individuals abducted on November 11 from the Borobekra sub-division in Jiribam after a militant attack targeting the Meitei community. Initial reports aligned with the descriptions of the missing individuals, confirmed by security forces as part of the kidnapped group.
The abductions and subsequent discoveries have sparked escalating violence in Manipur, particularly in the valley regions. Public outrage has led to widespread protests, with demonstrators attacking the residences of local ministers and MLAs, causing significant property damage.
On November 16, mobs breached the homes of several legislators and ministers in Imphal, further inflaming the tense situation. Responding to this unrest, the Manipur administration enforced a curfew in four districts and suspended Internet services in seven others on Saturday to curb the violence.
These developments highlight the urgent need for accountability and peace in the region, as the community grapples with the tragic events and intensifying unrest.
