New Delhi: The long-standing peace in Manipur was shattered on 1 September when two villagers were killed in a violent attack by suspected tribal militants. These militants used drones to drop mortars and advanced firearms in the Imphal West district.
A day before, on 31 August, members of the Kuki-Zo community held three rallies across various parts of the state, demanding the creation of a separate administration known as ‘Kukiland’. During the protests, vandals set fire to the ancestral home of BJP spokesperson and Thadou tribe leader T Michael Lamjathang Haokip in the Churachandpur district.
The sequence of violence
On 2 September, a 23-year-old woman was injured, and at least three bunkers belonging to the India Reserve (IR) battalion were damaged in bomb attacks. These were carried out using drones by suspected tribal militants in two separate incidents.
On Friday, suspected militants launched long-range rocket attacks in Bishnupur district, killing one person and injuring five others, including a young girl. One of the rockets struck the residence of Manipur’s first chief minister Mairembam Koireng resulting in the death of a 70-year-old priest RK Rabei.
Schools were closed on Saturday in response to the bomb attacks. Meitei organisations have written to the security advisor and the director general of police, urging them to resign for failing to ensure adequate security. Despite these calls, the state witnessed further violence on Saturday, when five individuals, including three suspected militants, were killed during clashes between the warring communities.
Origin of new wave of violence
This renewed wave of violence, which began last Sunday, has been linked to an audio recording containing offensive remarks against a specific community. The clip went viral on social media, with those circulating it alleging that the voice in the clip is that of chief minister N Biren Singh. The state government has dismissed the audio as fabricated, insisting that it was designed to undermine peace efforts led by both the central and state governments.
The protest by the Kuki-Zo community on 31 August was in part a response to this controversial audio recording.
Response by security forces
In response to the growing unrest, the Assam Rifles has deployed anti-drone systems in sensitive areas along the borders of conflict zones. The CRPF has also begun testing and deploying anti-drone technology, with more systems expected to be introduced soon. The Manipur Police have announced their own plans to procure anti-drone systems in a bid to enhance security.
The ethnic violence, which began last year, has claimed more than 200 lives to date.
