Imphal/Guwahati: The Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) has constituted a high-level committee to “critically examine and study” the weaponised drones allegedly used by “Kuki militants” to drop bombs in Koutruk, Imphal West, a day after fighting once again erupted Sunday.
The committee would study the available evidence, the specifications of the drones, and how to “effectively counter them”, said a copy of the order—marked ‘confidential’—issued Monday.
The high-level committee will be led by Additional Director General of Manipur Police (ADGP) Ashutosh Kumar Sinha as the chairman and include other senior security officials. The committee has been directed to submit its report by 13 September.
On Sunday, fresh fighting erupted after a brief lull. A 31-year-old woman, identified as Ngangbam Surbala, was killed in an attack by “Kuki militants” at Koutruk village. While the home department, in a statement later that evening, said two persons had sustained fatal injuries, the identity of the second victim has not yet been revealed.
In its Monday order, the Manipur Police, however, said that rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), deployed using high-tech drones, had killed one civilian and injured others.
Ngangbam Surbala’s daughter, 8, and three police personnel sustained injuries during the exchange of fire between armed groups in Koutruk Sunday, police said.
Earlier, in a social media post Sunday evening, the police had said that the female victim had “succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the attack”.
In the post on ‘X’, terming the attack “unprecedented”, the Manipur Police said that “while drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfare, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and the 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,” it had added.
Another three civilians were injured in a similar attack, a day later, Monday, when drones were deployed at Senjam Chirang Maning Leikai, Imphal West District, police said in another social media post.
Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh called the attacks an “act of terrorism” in a post on ‘X’ Tuesday morning.
Dropping of bombs on civilian population and security forces by using drones is an act of terrorism and I condemn such cowardly acts in the strongest terms.
Manipur state government takes such unprovoked assault with utmost seriousness and will take up necessary response to…
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) September 3, 2024
Separately, a video surfaced on social media Monday, in which armed men identifying themselves as “Kuki-Zo village volunteers” issued a warning to “Meitei militants” against “laying ambush in Kangpokpi-Churachandpur road”, and areas in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Tengnoupal districts. They were asked to leave these places “within three days” or face consequences.
Earlier Monday, the Manipur Police recovered a drone from the Kharam Vaiphei area of Kangpokpi District during search operations conducted jointly by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts, police said on ‘X’.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)