Security has been significantly heightened in Manipur after a fresh wave of violence over the weekend resulted in multiple deaths, officials confirmed on Sunday. The situation, while tense, remains under control with no new incidents reported since the previous day.
Officials emphasized that district police superintendents, in coordination with various security forces, are vigilantly monitoring the situation across the state. “The security situation is being continuously assessed, with measures in place to prevent further escalation,” one official stated.
In a new strategic move, the Assam Rifles has deployed anti-drone systems in the fringe areas of the Imphal Valley to intercept and neutralize any potential threats from “rogue drones.” The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has also handed over anti-drone technology to the state police to bolster these efforts.
The use of drones to carry out attacks marks a new and alarming tactic in the ongoing ethnic clashes that have gripped Manipur since May last year, claiming over 200 lives. The first instance of drone-assisted attacks occurred on September 1 in Koutruk village, Imphal West district, where two people were killed and nine others were injured. The following day, a similar incident in Senjam Chirang, about three kilometers away, left three more injured.
Adding to the tension, authorities have imposed prohibitory orders in Jiribam district, banning the assembly of five or more individuals as of Saturday night. The move follows fresh violence in the district, where five people were killed. Among the victims was a man shot dead in his sleep by militants, which triggered a violent exchange of gunfire between rival ethnic groups, leading to four additional fatalities.
Jiribam, an ethnically diverse district that had previously been relatively unaffected by the clashes plaguing the Imphal Valley and surrounding hills, became embroiled in violence in June when a 59-year-old man was allegedly killed by militants from a rival community. Since then, incidents of arson and attacks have forced thousands to flee their homes, taking refuge in relief camps. A CRPF officer was also ambushed and killed by militants in mid-July.
The deployment of advanced anti-drone systems and the imposition of stricter security measures reflect growing concerns about escalating violence as the region struggles to regain stability. Authorities remain on high alert, working to prevent further casualties in the fragile state.
(With inputs from PTI)