'Attempt to Derail Efforts for Establishing Peace': State Government on Manipur Drone Attack

Imphal: The villages of Koutruk and neighboring Kadangband in Manipur's Imphal West district were attacked by the Kuki militants on Sunday night. The drone attack claimed two lives including a woman and injured several others. Condemning the attack, the state government has issued a statement and has called this attack an attempt to derail the govt's efforts of establishing peace.

State Government Condemns Manipur Drone Attack, Issues Statement

Condemning the drone attack by Kuki militants, the Manipur Government has issued a statement.

The statement reads, “The State Government has learnt about the unfortunate incident of the attack on unarmed Koutruk villagers using drones, bombs and many sophisticated weapons on Sunday reportedly by Kuki militants causing the death of two persons including one woman and injuries to many.”

'Attempt to Derail Efforts for Establishing Peace'

The government's statement further says, “Such act of terrorising upon the unarmed villagers is viewed very seriously by the State Government when the State Government is putting all possible efforts towards bringing normalcy and peace to the State. Such an act of creating havoc among the unarmed villagers reportedly by Kuki militants is seen as an attempt to derail the efforts taken by the State Government to establish peace in the State.”

‘Role of Highly Trained Professionals Cannot be Ruled Out’: Manipur Police

In a post on ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter), the Manipur Police said that as per the initial investigation, there seems to be an involvement of highly-trained professionals.

The post reads, “In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, Imphal West, alleged Kuki militants have deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones. While drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfares, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and the civilians marks a significant escalation. The involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and the police are prepared to respond to any contingency that may arise....Police appeals to the general public to maintain restraint.”

Manipur Drone Attack by Kuki Militants that Claimed 2 Lives

In a first, Kuki militants used weaponised drones to launch an attack in Manipur's Imphal West district on Sunday. The gun-and-bomb attack by the suspected militants killed two persons and injured nine others, police said. Of the nine injured, five sustained bullet wounds, while the others suffered splinter injuries from bomb explosions, hospital officials said.

A woman was killed and her 12-year-old daughter was among nine injured, including two policemen, in firing by “suspected Kuki militants”, the state police and the Home Department said in separate statements. The Home Department said a man was also killed in the attack, taking the number of dead to two.