Northeast Desk, 2nd September: Following a deadly attack on September 1 that left two people dead and nine others injured, the Manipur government has ordered the state police to conduct combing operations and sanitization in areas bordering Imphal West district. The attack, carried out by suspected militants, has heightened concerns over security in the region, prompting swift action from the authorities.
Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to take immediate precautionary measures to apprehend those responsible for the gun-and-bomb attack. The directive includes enhancing vigilance in the affected areas to prevent further incidents.
In a letter to the DGP, Kumar emphasized the need for preventive measures, stating, “In view of recent incidents disturbing the general law and order situation in fringe areas bordering Imphal West district and the necessity to keep preventive measures in place, I am to request you to kindly take up necessary action to conduct combing operations and sanitization of areas falling in fringe areas bordering Imphal West district, more particularly in the stretch from Keithelmanbi to Koutruk.”
The 32-kilometer stretch between Keithelmanbi in Kangpokpi district and Koutruk in Imphal West has been a hotspot for violence since ethnic clashes erupted in May last year.
On September 1, militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops into the low-lying valley areas of Koutruk and neighboring Kadangband, resulting in the deaths of two people and injuries to nine others. Several houses were also damaged in the assault.
The police reported that the attackers used rocket-propelled grenades and drones, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. An official statement highlighted the unprecedented nature of the attack, noting that drones were used to deploy explosives against both civilians and security forces.
The use of drones for such purposes is a new development in Manipur, where drones have previously been employed by opposing groups for surveillance and tracking militant movements. The deployment of explosives via drones in Koutruk on Sunday represents a disturbing escalation in the conflict, according to police sources.
More than 200 people have been killed, and thousands have been displaced due to the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. The state government has appealed for calm and has intensified efforts to restore order in the affected areas.
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