A 23-year-old woman was injured in another drone bomb attack in Manipur’s Senjam Chirang today, sources said. The fresh attack comes a day after several drones launched by suspected Kuki insurgents dropped bombs in Imphal West district’s Koutruk village.
In today’s attack at Senjam Chirang, also in Imphal West district, two bombs were dropped by drones at 6.20 pm. The injured woman has been identified as Watham Sanatonbi Devi.
Unidentified people also attacked a post of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Sagolmang in Imphal East district at 4 am on Monday. They snatched two assault rifles and a light machine gun before fleeing, sources said.
Two people were killed and nine including a 12-year-old girl were injured in firing and drone attacks by suspected Kuki insurgents yesterday. The injured girl was the daughter of one of the two who was shot in the head.
Civil society groups in Imphal valley and residents near the foothills have demanded answers as to why the drone attacks are continuing, despite the presence of the police and central security forces.
Manipur BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh today asked the Centre to withdraw central forces from the state if their presence fails to stop violence. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mr Singh said if central forces fail to deliver results, the state security personnel should be allowed to take charge in an effort to restore peace in the ethnic violence-hit state.
“The presence of around 60,000 central forces in Manipur is not yielding peace, thus it’s better to remove such forces which are mostly present as mute spectators,” the Manipur BJP MLA said in the letter.
“We are pleased with the action to remove certain units of Assam Rifles who were not cooperating with the state government and the public, but if the presence of these and other central forces cannot halt violence, it is better to remove them and allow the state forces to take charge and bring peace,” Mr Singh added.
Mailed to Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah to take immediate action in the interest of the people of Manipur. Home Ministry has to act on priority.
1. It seems the presence of around 60000 central forces in Manipur is not yielding peace, thus it’s better to remove such forces… pic.twitter.com/qyqn5vleqV
— Rajkumar Imo Singh (@imosingh) September 2, 2024
Security forces launched a joint combing operation today in the areas between the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi and Meitei-dominated Imphal West district, sources said. Despite this, the attack happened, they said.
The Home Department in a statement yesterday said the attacks on unarmed villagers will not go unpunished. It said the attacks happened at a time when the government has been working to bring peace.
