‘Not consulted’: Hmar apex body walks out of peace agreement with Meiteis in 24 hrs

Imphal, August 3
Just a day after an agreement was signed between Hmar and Meitei representatives to restore peace in ethnic violence-hit Jiribam district of Manipur, the apex body of the Hmar community said the pact stood “null and void”.
Fresh violence was reported in Jiribam on Friday as shots were fired and an abandoned house in a Meitei village was torched, an official said.
The Hmar Inpui, the apex body of the community, claimed that its affiliated units signed the agreement without the knowledge of the general headquarters and dissolved its Jiribam unit in response.
“Hmar Inpui, general headquarters, is shocked to learn about the peace initiative that was taken on August 1, 2024 at a CRPF facility in Cachar, Assam. The first such initiative was held in Silchar on July 1. The Hmar Inpui condemned the engaging actors and negated the efforts that took place without our prior, informed consent,” it said in a statement on Friday.
“However, disrespecting the resolution of Hmar Inpui, members of Hmar Inpui/Jiribam Region, Hmar National Union (HNU) and several individuals continue to bow to the whims and fancies of a divisive and communal state government,” it added.
It further said: “The Hmar Inpui hereby declares the initiatives of August 1, 2024 between the representatives of Meitei and Hmar of Jiribam district as null and void. Accordingly, Hmar Inpui dissolved Hmar Inpui, Jiribam region and all its affiliated organisations (HYA, HSA, HNU, HWA) under the Jiribam jurisdiction.” The body also warned “individuals who participated in the event to stop their blind and selfish efforts and not represent Hmar community in any manner and if they wish to continue the efforts, they shall do so at their own risk”.
Representatives of the Meitei and Hmar communities had reached an agreement at a meeting held at a CRPF facility in adjoining Assam’s Cachar on Thursday.
The meeting was moderated by the Jiribam district administration, Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel. Representatives of Thadou, Paite and Mizo communities of the district were also present at the meeting. “The meeting resolved that both sides will make full efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of arson and firing. Both sides shall give full cooperation to all the security forces operating in the Jiribam district. Both sides agreed to facilitate controlled and coordinated movement,” a joint statement signed by representatives of all the participating communities had said.
On fresh violence in Jiribam, an official said: “It is an isolated settlement consisting of few Meitei houses and most of those were abandoned after violence broke out in the district.” — PTI

Community leaders had met in Assam

• Representatives of the Meitei and Hmar communities had reached an agreement at a meeting held at a CRPF facility in adjoining Assam’s Cachar on Thursday
• “The meeting resolved that both sides will make efforts to bring normalcy and prevent incidents of arson,” a statement had said