GUWAHATI: At least six people were killed early Saturday in a new wave of violence between warring communities in Manipur 's Jiribam district, prompting state govt to deploy military helicopters for surveillance and additional forces equipped with drone-detection systems to track down the assailants. This followed the recent drone and rocket attacks on Imphal valley.
Late evening, chief minister N Biren Singh held an emergency meeting with MLAs from the ruling coalition, comprising BJP, Naga People's Front, and National Peoples Party (NPP), official sources said. Soon after, Singh rushed to Raj Bhavan and met governor L Acharya and briefed him on the situation.
The violence escalated Friday after suspected militants fired long-range rockets, killing a priest and wounding five others in Moirang of Bishnupur district in Imphal valley, more than 200km east of Jiribam.
Early Saturday, militants attacked Nungchappi village in Jiribam, killing Yurembam Kulendra Singha (63). As the attackers moved to nearby Rasidpur village, armed clashes with local volunteers resulted in the death of Baspatimayum Lakhi Kumar Sharma (41). When Jiribam SP and his team rushed to the spot, they faced heavy firing. They found three more bodies, Manipur IG (intelligence) K Kabib said, identifying the slain men as "suspected miscreants".
However, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum reported that valley-based militant group UNLF had killed four village volunteers.
In Manipur, anti-drone system in place, schools ordered shut | page 20
The outfit identified them as Lhunkhohao Haokip (34), Haogulen Doungel (27), Seiminlen Khongsai (16), and Nehboithang Haokip (26).
Jiribam district bordering Assam is known for its diverse ethnic composition of Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris. Until June this year, it remained unaffected by the sectarian conflict that erupted in the state in May 2023.
The latest round of violence is believed to be linked to a controversial audio clip allegedly of chief minister N Biren Singh, which sparked protests demanding a separate administration for a tribal group. Singh's govt clarified that the audio was doctored in an attempt to derail peace initiatives started by Centre and state. But three protest rallies were organised on Aug 31 and the demand for a separate tribal administrative unit within the state was made.
During one of the rallies, unidentified miscreants vandalised and set on fire the ancestral house of Manipur BJP spokesperson T Michael Lamjathang Haokip in Churachandpur district. CM Singh said the attack "under the guise of peace rallies, is a deeply troubling trend".
The education director has ordered the closure of all schools due to the violence. IG Kabib said senior officers are monitoring the situation. "Army helicopters have been deployed for surveillance and patrol. Anti-drone systems are in place to repel rogue drones," he said, revealing that long-range weapons are being used to combat miscreants, while a social media monitoring cell is tracking instigators of violence.
Late Friday, two policemen were wounded when miscreants attempted to loot arms from 7th and 2nd Manipur Rifles bases in Imphal valley. Forces used tear smoke munitions and blank rounds to disperse the mobs.
The forces also conducted combing operations, confiscating arms and ammunition from areas bordering Bishnupur and Kangpokpi districts. Manipur police urged citizens to cooperate with security forces and warned against attempts to loot arms.
Late evening, chief minister N Biren Singh held an emergency meeting with MLAs from the ruling coalition, comprising BJP, Naga People's Front, and National Peoples Party (NPP), official sources said. Soon after, Singh rushed to Raj Bhavan and met governor L Acharya and briefed him on the situation.
The violence escalated Friday after suspected militants fired long-range rockets, killing a priest and wounding five others in Moirang of Bishnupur district in Imphal valley, more than 200km east of Jiribam.
Early Saturday, militants attacked Nungchappi village in Jiribam, killing Yurembam Kulendra Singha (63). As the attackers moved to nearby Rasidpur village, armed clashes with local volunteers resulted in the death of Baspatimayum Lakhi Kumar Sharma (41). When Jiribam SP and his team rushed to the spot, they faced heavy firing. They found three more bodies, Manipur IG (intelligence) K Kabib said, identifying the slain men as "suspected miscreants".
However, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum reported that valley-based militant group UNLF had killed four village volunteers.
In Manipur, anti-drone system in place, schools ordered shut | page 20
The outfit identified them as Lhunkhohao Haokip (34), Haogulen Doungel (27), Seiminlen Khongsai (16), and Nehboithang Haokip (26).
Jiribam district bordering Assam is known for its diverse ethnic composition of Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, and non-Manipuris. Until June this year, it remained unaffected by the sectarian conflict that erupted in the state in May 2023.
The latest round of violence is believed to be linked to a controversial audio clip allegedly of chief minister N Biren Singh, which sparked protests demanding a separate administration for a tribal group. Singh's govt clarified that the audio was doctored in an attempt to derail peace initiatives started by Centre and state. But three protest rallies were organised on Aug 31 and the demand for a separate tribal administrative unit within the state was made.
During one of the rallies, unidentified miscreants vandalised and set on fire the ancestral house of Manipur BJP spokesperson T Michael Lamjathang Haokip in Churachandpur district. CM Singh said the attack "under the guise of peace rallies, is a deeply troubling trend".
The education director has ordered the closure of all schools due to the violence. IG Kabib said senior officers are monitoring the situation. "Army helicopters have been deployed for surveillance and patrol. Anti-drone systems are in place to repel rogue drones," he said, revealing that long-range weapons are being used to combat miscreants, while a social media monitoring cell is tracking instigators of violence.
Late Friday, two policemen were wounded when miscreants attempted to loot arms from 7th and 2nd Manipur Rifles bases in Imphal valley. Forces used tear smoke munitions and blank rounds to disperse the mobs.
The forces also conducted combing operations, confiscating arms and ammunition from areas bordering Bishnupur and Kangpokpi districts. Manipur police urged citizens to cooperate with security forces and warned against attempts to loot arms.
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