Northeast Desk, 2nd September: Suspected militants burned at least five abandoned houses in a village in Manipur’s Imphal West district before being driven away by security forces, police reported on Monday. The incident has further heightened tensions in an area already reeling from ongoing ethnic violence.
The militants reportedly launched an attack from hilltops, firing indiscriminately into the low-lying valley areas of Koutruk and the neighboring Kadangband on Sunday afternoon. According to a senior police officer, the attackers managed to reach the outskirts of Koutruk village, approximately 18 km from the state capital, Imphal.
“Five abandoned houses were set ablaze by the militants. The residents had fled their homes after the gun and bomb attack began around 2:30 pm on Sunday. The militants were eventually pushed back by security forces later that night,” the officer stated.
This attack comes just days after a previous assault on September 1, which left two people dead, including a woman, and nine others injured. Koutruk has seen multiple attacks since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May of the previous year, causing widespread fear and forcing many residents to flee to safer areas.
The Manipur Police revealed that the militants employed rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and drones in the attack, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. “In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, alleged militants have deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones. While drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfare, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and civilians marks a significant escalation,” an official statement read.
Authorities are investigating the involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, as the use of such sophisticated weaponry suggests a new level of coordination and capability among the militants.
The state government has appealed to the public for restraint and assured that combing operations are ongoing to flush out any hostile elements in the area. “Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and the police are prepared to respond to any contingency that may arise,” the statement added.
This latest incident underscores the volatile situation in Manipur, with the ongoing ethnic violence and insurgent activities continuing to threaten the lives and safety of the state’s residents.