IMPHAL: Following a string of attacks by Kuki terrorists on Meitei people and security personnel, Manipur resembles a war zone. For the first time since unrest began in Northeastern India around fifty years ago, security forces have witnessed terrorist attacks on both civilians and military personnel from the air. Security forces have set up several anti-drone measures around the state in response to the spate of long-range rocket and drone bombing strikes that began on September 6th. This is intended to stop future attacks of this nature.
To thwart attacks by Kuki terrorists, the Army, Assam Rifles, and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have installed multiple anti-drone guns and spoofing devices, according to Manipur government security adviser Kuldeep Singh. Singh went on to say that between 15 and 17 drones have been intercepted, jammed, and even few were shot down thus far. The security adviser stated that the security forces continue to be concerned about mass weaponization. Miscreants looted more than 6000 weapons from state armouries during the fighting. whereby security personnel retrieved 2680 firearms. However, people possessed sophisticated weaponry, which made up half of the captured weapons. Thus, it is concerning that there are still a lot of weapons among the populace in the troubled state and disarming the civilians is topmost priority if peace is to prevail.
However, a police statement released on Tuesday stated that a self-loading weapon, many grenades, and RPG shells had been found in Manipur’s Bishnupur district. The weapon and explosives were taken by the police on Monday during search and area dominance actions in the district’s Machine Mano hills.
It stated that items found included a Chinese hand grenade, three HE-36 hand grenades, two RPG shell chargers, an SLR with a magazine, and two rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) shells. “Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts,” the Manipur police said in a statement. The following items were found by Manipur Police and Army from Moavom, Churachandpur District, during the search and rescue operations: one rocket (approximately 5.5 feet), one rocket (approximately 3 feet), one large country-made mortar, two medium-sized country-made mortars, four country-made mortar bombs, two pistols with magazines, nine rounds of live ammunition, one barrel rifle, explosive grade-2 (6.3 kg), Cortex 17 metres, and Fuse 09 metres.
Since May of last year, there have been thousands of homeless people and over 200 fatalities due to ethnic violence in Manipur between the Kukis, who live in the nearby hills, and the Meiteis, who live in the Imphal Valley.
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