Guwahati/Imphal
As many as six persons have been killed in the latest wave of violence, which got triggered by a first-of-its-kind “long range rocket” attack by suspected Kuki militants on Meitei-dominated Nungchappi village in Jiribam, some 230-km from State capital Imphal.
The rocket attack killed a 63-year-old man identified as Yurembam Kulendra Singha and this led to retaliation by the Meitei village defence volunteers that resulted in the death of four militants. There was also an exchange of fire between village volunteers and unidentified miscreants near Rashidpur village, which led to the death of one person, B. Lakhikanta Sharma, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) K Kabib said.
The attack came a day after Kuki insurgents fired a rocket at Manipur’s first Chief Minister Mairembam Koireng Singh’s home in Moirang town using an improvised launcher. The rocket landed metres within the housing compound, killing 72-year-old RK Rabei Singh, a Meitei man who was preparing for religious rituals. Five relatives of the former Chief Minister, including a 13-year-old girl, were injured.
This is the first time in the last 17 months since ethnic violence erupted, according to police officials, that militants used rocket attacks. And it comes after the militants also used drones for the first time as a weapon on September 1 in Koutruk village in Imphal West district. In the attack wherein guns were also used, two persons were killed and nine others were injured. Drones were used again in Senjam Chirang, around three km away, the next day, injuring three persons.
The latest tactics of the militants are keeping the security forces on their toes. While security forces have now deployed anti-drone systems and are carrying out aerial patrol to keep an eye on the ground by pressing choppers into service, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh convened an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss the latest scenario. He has termed the drone attacks an act of terrorism.
While authorities the closure of all schools on Saturday, panic spread in several residential areas on the sighting of drones and illuminations.
People turned off their lights on Friday night following sightings of multiple drones at Narainsena, Nambol Kamong in Bishnupur district and Pukhao, Dolaithabi, Shantipur in Imphal East district creating panic in the areas
Incidentally, it was at Jiribam that Meitei and Hmar leaders, along with security forces commanders, had last month met for peace talks last month. They had jointly agreed to work for peace but Churachandpur-based Kuki groups had objected to the decision, alleging the peace talk parties did not represent their interests and met only at Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s bidding.
On Friday evening, crowds tried to loot weapons from the 2nd and 7th Manipur Rifles camps in Imphal but were thwarted by the security forces, who fired blank rounds and tear gas, the police said adding two policemen were injured in firing by some people from the crowd. The two injured personnel have been identified as inspector Kh Henery, and constable Issac Gangmei. Both are in hospital.
Ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis first erupted on May 3 last year on the issue of ST reservation to the former.
