Manipur still on fire

A group of alleged Kuki militants attacked an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) bunker with drone bombings, mortars, and rifles in the Imphal East district of Manipur on Monday morning. Reportedly they snatched three automatic rifles from the bunker.

The attack on the 8th IRB bastion at Meikhan, near Sinam Kom in Imphal East, began at around 4.10am on Monday. Due to the sudden attack, the IRB cowards fled their posts and took positions outside at a safe place, awaiting reinforcements. Meanwhile the Kuki militants overpowered the bunker and took three automatic rifles: one AK-47, one INSAS, and one INSAS LMG.

Sinam Kom is located about 22 km from Imphal. The exchange of fire continued until around 7.30 am. Commandos from Imphal East and central forces arrived as reinforcement. Later, the Manipur police, along with central forces, conducted a search operation in the surrounding areas, but no recoveries were made.

The incident occurred a day after alleged Kuki militants attacked Koutruk, a Meitei village in the Imphal West district. It has been reported that rocket-propelled grenades and drones were used in the attack. The use of drones to deploy explosives against security forces “marks a significant escalation”, officials said.

In this demonstrations that took place on August 31 the house of a BJP leader was torched by unidentified attackers in Churachandpur district. The demonstrators did so because they blamed First Minister of Manipur to be responsible of the crimes against the people.