Guwahati, Sept 2: Following the use of drone bombs at a village in Manipur’s Imphal West on Sunday, security forces in the state led by the State police have launched intensive combing operations in the foothill areas to neutralize the militants behind the attacks.
Police have also confirmed that atleast 7 bombs were dropped by drones on Koutruk village in Imphal West on Sunday afternoon, further increasing the damage in addition to the barrage of bullets from nearby hills, leading to the death of 2 persons and injuries to many villagers.
The militants reportedly fired at Koutruk village from Nakhujang village in Kangpokpi at around 2.35 PM on Sunday.
The villagers have been forced to flee their homes and take shelter at a school. They told local media the pattern of attacks has been to force villagers out of their homes with constant firing before burning the houses at night.
Visuals from Koutruk that came-in on Monday morning showed several houses and vehicles, including a construction truck, destroyed due to fire on Sunday night.
Intermittent firing was also reported at around 5:30 AM on Monday morning in an area between Imphal West district’s Sekmai and Kangpokpi district between the security forces and suspected militants.
Following the latest violence, Manipur government has ordered the police to conduct combing operations along the foothills. “In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, alleged Kuki militants have deployed numerous RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) using high-tech drones,” the Manipur Police said in a statement.
It further added, “The involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and the police are prepared to respond to any contingency that may arise.”
A senior police officer said the drones dropped at least seven “explosives” to target houses in Koutruk village, which lies in the foothills 20 km northwest from Imphal.
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The Director General of Police has ordered all district Superintendent of Police to remain on maximum alert and start carrying out combing operations in the foothills.
The Kuki tribes are dominant in Kangpokpi district and the adjacent hills, while the Meiteis are dominant in Imphal valley areas, including Sekmai.
In the attack by suspected Kuki insurgents at Koutruk on Sunday, a 31-year-old woman from the Meitei community was killed. Her 12-year-old daughter was among 10 injured, including two policemen and a local TV reporter.
However, Kuki civil society groups have alleged the Meiteis began firing at Kuki villages in Kangpokpi first. They alleged the incident comes just days after purported audio tapes of Chief Minister N Biren Singh – now submitted to a probe panel of the Home Ministry – “proved” the Chief Minister started the Manipur crisis. The state government has called the tapes “doctored”.
Manipur Congress vice president, Lamtinthang Haokip, who belongs to the Kuki tribe, in a post on X alleged that an attempt to ambush between Leimakhong and Kangchup route was thwarted by Kuki village volunteers, resulting in an exchange of fire.
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