At least five people were killed in fresh violence in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Saturday, as per the police.

On August 6, security forces destroyed three bunkers of militants in Churachandpur district after the insurgents launched rocket attacks in adjoining Bishnupur that killed one person and injured six others.

According to a police officer, one person was shot dead in his sleep while four others were killed in a subsequent exchange of fire between people from two warring communities in Jiribam district today.

Militants entered the house of the person who lived alone at an isolated location around 5 km from the district administration headquarters and shot him dead in his sleep, he said.

After the incident, there was a significant exchange of gunfire between individuals from the conflicting communities in the hills approximately 7 km from the district headquarters, resulting in the deaths of four armed individuals, including three militants from the hills, according to the officer.

Fresh incidents of arson occurred earlier this week in the Jiribam district when suspected ‘village volunteers’ set fire to an abandoned three-room house belonging to a retired police officer in the Jakuradhor area of the Borobekra police station.

The Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee (Pherzawl and Jiribam) refuted any involvement in the arson. Despite efforts by representatives of the Meitei and Hmar communities to reach an agreement to restore calm and prevent incidents of arson and violence, fresh violence erupted in the district.

A meeting held at a CRPF facility in Assam’s Cachar, moderated by the Jiribam district administration and attended by Assam Rifles, CRPF personnel, and representatives of various communities, aimed to restore normalcy but faced criticism from Hmar tribal bodies outside the district for lack of awareness.

Meanwhile, security forces conducted operations in Mualsang and Laika Mualsau villages in Churachandpur district and destroyed three militants’ bunkers.

Militants deployed rockets in civilian areas in Bishnupur district, resulting in civilian casualties, prompting a police response and combing operations in the adjoining hill ranges, as per the police statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Hokato Hotozhe Sema for creating history by winning the bronze medal in Men’s Shotput F57 at the ongoing Paris Paralympics.

Congratulating the bronze winner Sema on social media platform X, PM Modi said, “A proud moment for our nation as Hokato Hotozhe Sema brings home the Bronze medal in Men’s Shotput F57! His incredible strength and determination are exceptional. Congratulations to him. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead.”

Sema, a Paralympic athlete from Nagaland, made history as the first athlete from the state to win a Paralympic medal for India. Sema achieved a personal best throw of 14.65 meters, surpassing the previous record of 13.49 meters set by Azerbaijan’s Olokhan Musayev.

The gold medal was claimed by Iran’s Yasin Khosravi with a throw of 15.96 meters, while Brazil’s Thiago Paulino dos Santos took silver with 15.06 meters.

Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his wishes to champion and praised the Paralympian’s milestone.

Taking to X, Shah said: “Hokato Sema has hit a major milestone by winning the Bronze medal in the Men’s Shot Put F57 event at the Paralympics 2024. Your unwavering drive and spectacular performance have made the nation proud.”

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio praised Sema for winning bronze in Paris. He said, “Congratulations to Hokato Hotozhe Sema on winning Bronze in Shot Put F57, marking the 27th medal for team India at the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympics Games. His remarkable journey & dedication have led to this outstanding achievement. He is a true inspiration & a role model.”

Sema was born in Nagaland on December 24, 1983, and grew up in a farming family. He aspired to join the Special Forces but unfortunately, a mine blast during a Counter Infiltration Operation on October 14, 2002, resulted in the loss of his left leg below the knee. This altered his path, but not his determination. Despite the setback, his resilience and dedication have earned him a place in Paralympic history.

India’s total medal count at the ongoing event has now attained 27, comprising six gold, nine silver, and 12 bronze medals. This accomplishment signifies India’s most impressive performance at the Paralympic Games to date, surpassing the five gold medals secured at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday released the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and asserted that Article 370 has become history and will never make a comeback in the Union territory.

At the release of BJP’s Sankalp Patra, Jammu and Kashmir party unit chief Ravinder Raina and other party leaders were also present.

Addressing the party supporters, Shah said, since independence, the Union Territory has been important for the BJP party. “We have always tried to keep this land intact with India,” he added.

Shah said his party believes that J&K has always been part of India and it will remain so. Till 2014, J&K always remained in the shadow of separatism and terrorism, he added.

Asserting that all previous governments dealt with the State with a policy of appeasement, Shah said whenever the history of Jammu and Kashmir is written, these ten years after 2014 will be marked as a golden period for the state.

Retorting sharply at Congress and National Conference, the senior BJP leader said: “I have seen the National Conference agenda. I have also seen Congress silently supporting NC’s agenda. But, I want to say to the country that Article 370 is history, it will never return, and we won’t let it happen. Article 370 was the thing that gave weapons and stones in the hands of the youth.”

The Union Home Minister said his government has decided that to bring ‘Ma Samman Yojana’ to give Rs 18,000 to the eldest lady of every family, each year. He added, “We will give two free cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme, per year. Under Pragati Shiksha Yojana, we will provide Rs 3,000 to college students per year, as a travelling allowance.”

Speaking on the party’s manifesto having a rehabilitation scheme for Kashmiri Pandits, Shah asserted that the scheme will be very detailed, and the party will look for complete rehabilitation.

Many Kashmiri Pandits and people from the Sikh community who left when the terrorism was at its peak were forced to sell their properties, adding, that the government has already started working in this regard.

Shah said, “Either returning their properties or providing the amount for their properties. We are towards the completion of rehabilitation of 6000 people.”