6 Killed in Fresh Attacks in Manipur This Morning; Military Chopper Deployed for Patrolling

Imphal: Manipur has been witnessing various drone and rocket attacks in the past days by suspected Kuki militants. The attacks have claimed several lives and have injured many others; following the two rocket attacks on Friday that claimed a life and also destroyed bunkers, a military chopper has been deployed for patrolling.

Fresh Attack in Manipur Kills 6

Amid the ongoing attacks in Manipur for the past week, a fresh attack occurred in the morning today and claimed six lives; the casualties were a result of firing that happened in the early hours of Saturday.

Rocket Attacks in Bishnupur Kill 1, Destroy Bunkers

Two rockets were fired in the Bishnupur district of Manipur on Friday, killing one and injuring five others; the attack has been carried out by suspected Kuki militants. The rocket attacks came after drones were employed to drop bombs on people at two nearby places in Imphal West district earlier this week.

The rocket attacks in Bishnupur did not just result in a casualty and injuries, but it also destroyed several bunkers in the areas. Visuals of soldiers cleaning out the completely destroyed bunkers in Bishnupur have surfaced.

Manipur Violence: Military Chopper Deployed for Patrolling

In a latest development, seeing the ongoing violence in the state of Manipur , a military chopper has been deployed and is being used for aerial patrolling. Thousands of people across five districts of the Imphal Valley formed human chains on Friday to protest the attacks by militants. The Manipur government announced the closure of schools on September 7 in view of unrest arising out of bomb attacks.

Officials said that Friday's first rocket attack was reported around 4.30 am at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district, damaging two structures. Around 3 pm, the second rocket fell on the compound of former chief minister Mairembam Koireng’s residence in the busy Moirang town, killing an elderly man and injuring five others including a 13-year-old girl.

Manipur Govt Issues Notification

The Manipur government in a notification said, "In view of unrest and prevailing situation in the state and keeping in mind the safety of students and teachers, all government and private schools, central schools will stay closed on September 7." The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a conglomeration of valley-based civil bodies, has declared a "public emergency" across the five districts of Imphal valley with immediate effect. The government cannot be further trusted to protect the lives of people. The public must decide its own way to protect themselves.” COCOMI also organized human chains in which school and college students, as well as women from various localities, lined up along roadsides in Thoubal Bazar, Lilong Chajing in Thoubal district, and Sekmai, Kwakeithel, Singjamei in Imphal West district raising slogans condemning the recent attacks in Koutruk and Senjam Chirang."

Continuous Attacks by Suspected Kuki Militants Shock Manipur

The use of drones as a weapon was first noticed in Manipur on September 1 in Koutruk village in Imphal West district. In the attack in which guns were also used, two persons were killed and nine others were injured. The remote-controlled small flying device was employed again in Senjam Chirang, around three km away, the next day, injuring three persons.

"Security forces are on high alert and moved towards the periphery of valley districts, notably on the side Bishnupur bordering Churachandpur, and Imphal West bordering Kangpokpi districts," a central security force official told PTI.

Officials said the "unguided" rocket missiles were locally improvised and were fired from elevated Thangjing hill ranges of Churachandpur district towards the low-lying Moirang town. Following the two attacks within a gap of around 10 hours, all markets and business establishments were shut down in Moirang town and the rest of Bishnupur district and border areas of nearby districts of the state. The attacks have revealed loopholes in the security system that has been laid down in the state to contain the conflict, an official said.

(Inputs from PTI)