New Delhi: The Army has found no evidence of drones dropping bombs in Manipur, a state which has seen continuous ethnic clashes since May last year, resulting in the death of over 200 people.
Videos and photographs on social media which show drones releasing or carrying small explosives like grenades or mortar are from Myanmar and Palestine, top sources in the defence establishment said.
Asked about the Manipur Police’s claim that minority Kuki groups were using drones to launch rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), a source said: “Don’t want to get into who has said what. As far as the situation on the ground is concerned, the Army has found no evidence of drones being used by any side.”
The source also said what was in use were crude weapons, debunking the alleged use of modern hand-held rockets in the violence. A source added the central forces could only try and contain the violence, “but the problem is between two communities”.
Tribal Kukis and the majority Meitei community have attacked each other since 3 May last year following a demand by Meiteis for a scheduled tribe status, reserved so far for the hill-based, minority Kukis. According to government sources, nearly 220 people have died in the last 16 months, and thousands displaced.
A period of relative calm, however, was shattered on 1 September when the Manipur Police claimed there was an unprecedented attack on Koutruk in Imphal West. The fresh violence has killed 11 people, authorities said.
The police blamed Kuki militants for allegedly deploying numerous RPGs using high-tech drones. The police said the use of drones—“which have commonly been used in general warfares”—to drop explosives on security forces and civilians “marks a significant escalation”.
“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,” the cops said.
In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, Imphal West, alleged Kuki militants have deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones. While drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfares, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and the…
— Manipur Police (@manipur_police) September 1, 2024
Manipur Inspector General of Police for Operations, I.K. Muviah, said on 10 September that they would “most likely” hand over to central agencies all evidence collected during their probe into the drone bombing. He said these kinds of “important cases” should be investigated at the highest level.
He added: “We have recovered all bomb fragments; they have been sent to the forensic lab so that chemicals that have been used can be detected… We have clarified the incident on our official media handles very clearly and we stand by it.”
According to media reports, the Manipur Police contacted IIT, Delhi, to help them with their investigation into the alleged use of drones in these attacks.
The fresh violence has prompted Delhi-based Meitei organisations to renew their demand to terminate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups.
Meanwhile, the apex body of the Kuki community has refuted the drone claims, and alleged there was actually an attempt to “ambush Kuki-Zo civilians along the Kanggui-Lamka Road”. The Kuki Inpi Manipur said this led to heavy exchange of fire “between the combined forces of Arambai Tenggol, Valley-Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs), Meitei state forces, and Kuki-Zo volunteers” in the Kangchup region near Koutruk village.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: Manipur solution lies in reconcile, reform, disarm. Not in dramatics