Few days after Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren once again promised to restore peace and normalcy in the State, the Kuki-Zomi militants have intensified their attack on Meitei civilians with drone-bombings and firing rockets killing and injuring many civilians.
Chief Minister Biren in an interview to PTI Videos on August 29, promised to fully restore peace in Manipur in six months with the help of the Centre. He also ruled out stepping down from his position, saying he had neither committed a crime nor spawned a scandal. He even revealed for the first time that he has appointed Dinganglung Gangmei, a Naga MLA and the Chairman of the Hill Area Committee as an emissary to hold talks with Kuki-Zomi militants and Meitei leaders.
However, with the weaponisation of drones in bombing and firing local-made long-range rockets on Meitei civilians since September 1, 2024, the violent conflict between the Kuki-Zomi militants and Meiteis has now taken a more dangerous turn and deepened the conflict.
The unprecedented drone bombing by the Kuki-Zomi militants at Koutruk village in Imphal West district bordering Kuki dominated Kangpokpi district on September 1 resulting in the killing of one young woman and injuring 16 other civilians has shocked and taken the Meiteis by surprise. In the following day, another 3 were injured in a similar drone bombing at Senjam Chirang, a village located next to Koutruk village of Imphal West district.
The Kuki-Zomi militants’ drone-bombing at Koutruk on September 1 at about 2pm killed 31-year old Ngangom Surbala who was married to Phayeng and came to Koutruk Ching Leikai to visit her parental family with her daughter. Her minor daughter sustained a shoulder injury and under treatment in a hospital in Imphal. The drone-bombing at Koutruk was the first reported drone-bombing although there was a suspected such dropping of bomb in Bishnupur district before.
After Koutruk Ching Leikai, the Kuki-Zomi militants moved on their attack to Kadangband Part-1, injuring several others. The drone-bombing also resulted in several houses catching fire at Koutruk Ching Leikai.
The Kuki-Zomi militants continued their attack on Meitei civilians in the next day also. On September 2 two more persons sustained injuries as Kuki-Zomi militants continued with drone-bombing at Senjam Chirang in Imphal West dropping three bombs on the civilian population of the area.
According to reports, one bomb struck the roof of Watham Gambhir, 65, at Senjam Chirang Maning Leikai; another fell on the alley beside his house while the third bomb exploded near a river bank. Watham Gambhir’s daughter, Sanatombi, 23, was struck by a splinter on her stomach. She is being treated at Shija Hospital. Gambhir’s younger brother, Jotin, 56, also sustained minor injury on his shoulder by the blast.
On early September 2, the Kuki-Zomi militants Earlier attacked an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) post at Meikan near Sinam, Imphal East district bordering Kangpokpi district with drones strikes and firing of bombs from mortars from the surrounding hills. The Kuki-Zomi militants decamped with three assault rifles including one AK, one INSAS and one INSAS LMG from the post.
In the security operation after the drone attack, Manipur Police along with Central Security Forces seized a drone from Kharam Vaiphei, Kangpokpi district along with arms, ammunition and explosives.
Furthermore, aggravating the situation the Kuki-Zomi militants killed a 78-year old person and injured five others by firing long-range rockets on Meitei civilians on September 6. This is the first reported firing of rockets by the Kuki-Zomi militants against Meitei civilians since the violent conflict erupted on May 3 last year (2023).
According to reports, the rocket was fired at former Chief Minister of Manipur, Mairembam Koireng’s home in Moirang town near India National Army (INA) Museum Complex using an improvised launcher around 3pm. Mairembam Koireng was Chief Minister when Manipur was a Union Territory during over three separate terms between 1963 and 1969. He passed away in 1994.
The rocket exploded at the premises of Mairembam Japan, 50, the grandson of Mairembam Koireng. The rocket landed metres within the housing compound and inches away from his home, killing a 78-year-old Arangpham (event manager), RK Rabei of Moirang Phiwangbam Leikai after a shrapnel struck his head. He was preparing for the religious performance of “Asti” to be held on September 7 for the death of Koireng’s daughter-in-law. Five relatives who were setting up a mandap (a temporary shed) for the religious performance at the courtyard of the former chief minister, including a 13-year-old girl, were injured by the rocket.
The injured were identified as Konjengbam Gojendro, 54, son of K Jugeshwar from Moirang Okshongbung Leikai; Ngangom Ibobi, 65, from Moirang Okshongbung Leikai; Mairembam Rajeev aka Bobo, 58, son of M Khalen from Moirang Road; Salam Nanao, 40, from Moirang Sendra Road; and Salena Mairembam, 13, daughter of Mairembam Japan and grand daughter of Mairembam Koireng from Moirang Mairembam Leikai. They were admitted to RIMS hospital.
Police sources said that the attack was launched by Kuki-Zomi militants from Gelmol Maning Ningthi Ching.
Noteworthily, the rocket attack killing one and injuring five others was not the first rocket strike by the Kuki-Zomi militants on the day. Earlier around 4.20 am, Kuki-Zomi militants fired rockets at Tronglaobi Makha Leikai under Moirang Police Station in Bishnupur district.
However, fortunately there was no casualty in the rocket attack in the early morning. According to sources, the rocket exploded in the toilet of Keisham Tomba, 56, son of Babachou of Tronglaobi Makha Leikai. The rocket was reportedly fired from the Thangjing Hill range.
In reprisal to the rocket firing, a joint team of Manipur Police and India Army also conducted a search operation and demolished a bunker of the Kuki-Zomi militants at Laika Mualsau. However, no weapons were seized during the operation.
Earlier, people in Imphal valley including students held a human chain rally demanding the withdrawal of central forces, as they have been unable to protect civilians from Kuki-Zomi militant attacks. Human chains were formed in several areas in Thoubal and Kakching district by locals including students while the Kuki Students’ Organisation declared a shutdown in Churachandpur town. Thousands of people across five districts of Imphal Valley formed human chains to protest the “drone and gun attacks” that took away a couple of lives, including that of a 31-year-old woman, less than a week ago.
The protestors also vented their anger against the State government for failing to handle the ongoing conflict. They carried placards with slogans such as ‘Drone bombing is an act of terrorism’, ‘Manipur’s territorial integrity cannot be compromised’, and ‘We want peace; Save Manipur’.
Amidst the Kuki-Zomi militants’ intensified attacks on civilians and following the Moirang incident, the Coordinator of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Thokchom Somorendro on Friday evening (September 6) made the statement at Moirang while announcing an indefinite ‘Public Emergency’ across the State with immediate effect. Somorendro said that no individuals are safe after the incident, the best precautionary measures are to remain indoors, as no Central Fforces are able to defend or stop the attacks by Kuki-Zomi militants.
“We do not trust Central Forces, as it is becoming clear that they might be supporting Kuki-Zomi militants. There is even a suspicion that the Central leaders are involved in narco-business with Kuki narco-terrorists,” Somorendro added.
He said that if Manipur Government cannot control the situation, all legislators should resign and leave the matter to the public.
During the public emergency school, colleges and other institutions including the government’s should remain closed. The public emergency will remain in effect until the government takes concrete steps to restore peace, he added.
Now, the violent conflict between the Kuki-Zomi militants and Meiteis that has been coninuing for the last 17 months since May 3 last year (2023) has taken a more dangerous and deeper turn fueling the violent conflict to continue further with more complexities. The Government both the Central and provincial Government of Manipur now need to understand the ground realities instead of pursuing their percieved agenda.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
