NEW DELHI: Manipur CM N Biren Singh called an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday following a week of renewed violence in the state.
Earlier, at least five people were killed in a gun battle between groups belonging to two communities in Manipur’s Jiribam district. A security source said that several others were injured and the number of casualty can rise.
On Friday, suspected militants launched rocket attacks at the residence of Manipur’s first chief minister Mairembam Koireng, killing one and injuring six others.
Security forces in response destroyed three bunkers in the neighboring Churachandpur district and aerial patrolling was conducted using a military helicopter.
COCOMI declared indefinite public emergency
Additionally, the spokesperson of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Khuraijam Athouba, declared an indefinite public emergency citing increased Kuki aggression in the region.
“The escalation of Kuki aggression has increased double-fold again. Over the past few days there were several incidents of drone bombing in Imphal West, killing several people and injuring many others, and today again there have been two missile attacks, which have been shot from a very long range around 7 kilometres. It is being considered one of the deadliest attacks by the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups who had taken refuge in the surrounding hilly areas,” said Athouba.
“There has been an increase in Kuki aggression… There have been incidents of drone bombing in the last few days… There were two missile attacks today… It has targeted the home land of Mairembam Koireng Singh, the first chief minister of Manipur. His statue and property have been destroyed… The situation is out of control. This is not an ordinary attack, because the missile has travelled from the hills to reach this place. The central forces who are being deployed in the foothill areas to take care of the Kuki armed groups from doing any sort of aggression are completely vulnerable,” he added.
People turn off lights after drone sightings
Residents switched off light in the outskirts of Manipur’s Bishnupur and Imphal East districts on Friday after multiple drone sightings were reported.
An official said that security forces are maintaining high alert in the peripheral areas to keep a close watch on the movement of large groups of people.
This comes after the recent incidents where militants used drones to drop bombs on people in two nearby locations in Imphal West district.
The first instance of drones being used as a weapon in Manipur was reported on September 1 in Koutruk village, Imphal West district. Guns were also used in the attack killing two persons and injuring nine others.
The following day, another drone attack occurred in Senjam Chirang, approximately three kilometers away, resulting in injuries to three individuals.
Earlier, at least five people were killed in a gun battle between groups belonging to two communities in Manipur’s Jiribam district. A security source said that several others were injured and the number of casualty can rise.
On Friday, suspected militants launched rocket attacks at the residence of Manipur’s first chief minister Mairembam Koireng, killing one and injuring six others.
Security forces in response destroyed three bunkers in the neighboring Churachandpur district and aerial patrolling was conducted using a military helicopter.
COCOMI declared indefinite public emergency
Additionally, the spokesperson of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Khuraijam Athouba, declared an indefinite public emergency citing increased Kuki aggression in the region.
“The escalation of Kuki aggression has increased double-fold again. Over the past few days there were several incidents of drone bombing in Imphal West, killing several people and injuring many others, and today again there have been two missile attacks, which have been shot from a very long range around 7 kilometres. It is being considered one of the deadliest attacks by the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups who had taken refuge in the surrounding hilly areas,” said Athouba.
“There has been an increase in Kuki aggression… There have been incidents of drone bombing in the last few days… There were two missile attacks today… It has targeted the home land of Mairembam Koireng Singh, the first chief minister of Manipur. His statue and property have been destroyed… The situation is out of control. This is not an ordinary attack, because the missile has travelled from the hills to reach this place. The central forces who are being deployed in the foothill areas to take care of the Kuki armed groups from doing any sort of aggression are completely vulnerable,” he added.
People turn off lights after drone sightings
Residents switched off light in the outskirts of Manipur’s Bishnupur and Imphal East districts on Friday after multiple drone sightings were reported.
An official said that security forces are maintaining high alert in the peripheral areas to keep a close watch on the movement of large groups of people.
This comes after the recent incidents where militants used drones to drop bombs on people in two nearby locations in Imphal West district.
The first instance of drones being used as a weapon in Manipur was reported on September 1 in Koutruk village, Imphal West district. Guns were also used in the attack killing two persons and injuring nine others.
The following day, another drone attack occurred in Senjam Chirang, approximately three kilometers away, resulting in injuries to three individuals.
Source Agencies
