Manipur forces seize arms, ammunition amid growing tensions after fresh attack
A massive combing operation to trace militants was underway in Manipur a day after at least five people were killed in fresh violence in Jiribam district amid drone and rocket attacks.
The security agencies recovered large caches of weapons in a significant arms haul in the state, which has been on the boil since the ethnic violence began in May last year.
The seized weapons include sniper rifles, pistols, guns, short- and long-range mortars, grenades, and long-range rocket bombs, among other ammunition.
Following the attack, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh held an emergency meeting with ruling coalition MLAs to review the situation. Later, he also met Governor L Acharya to appraise him about the security situation in the state.
MANIPUR VIOLENCE: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Massive security measures have been put in place in Manipur after Saturday’s violence killed five people. A military helicopter was deployed for patrolling and conducting aerial surveys, and a combing operation is also underway. Inspector General of Police, Intelligence, K Kabib claimed that the situation has been brought under control.
Manipur Police say the Kuki militants deployed long-range rockets among the civilian population in attacks on two locations in Bishnupur district. This occurred after the militants entered the house of a person who lived alone and shot him dead in his sleep, worsening the situation.
In the ongoing combing operation, a large number of sophisticated arms, ammunition, explosives, and grenades were recovered on Saturday. A total of nine sophisticated arms, 21 different types of ammunition, 21 explosives, grenades, and a wireless set were recovered, officials said.
Security forces also destroyed three bunkers of militants in Churachandpur district after insurgents launched rocket attacks in adjoining Bishnupur, killing one person and injuring six others. The bodies of three armed militants were recovered in Jiribam.
There was an attempt to loot arms from Manipur Rifles custody at two locations, and combined security forces deployed at these locations dispersed the mob and repelled the attempt. Some vehicles belonging to the miscreants were also damaged, according to officials.
Manipur Police also deployed anti-drone systems in response to recent drone and rocket attacks on civilians. On Friday, people near Bishnupur and Imphal East districts turned off their lights after multiple drones were sighted. Similar drones were also used by the militants on Saturday.
A group of Meitei civil society organisations, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), declared an indefinite emergency in the state, citing increased Kuki aggression in the region.
However, Kuki groups denied carrying out aerial bombing via drones. The apex body of the Kuki tribe has denied accusations that Kuki-Zo Village Volunteers used drones to drop bombs, claiming that their use of drones is limited to surveillance in adherence to international law.
The Jiribam district, which saw five deaths on Saturday, had largely been untouched by the prolonged ethnic violence, and there was a peace agreement between the two communities in place.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year.