Manipur Violence: Prohibitory Orders Clamped After 5 Killed In Jiribam, Anti-Drone Systems Deployed

After five people were killed in fresh violence in Manipur’s Jiribam district on Saturday, the district magistrate issued prohibitory orders in the area, restricting assembly of more than five people and carrying of arms and ammunition.

In an official letter dated September 7, District Magistrate Krishna Kumar noted an apprehension of widespread disturbance to the peace and public tranquillity in Jiribam and appealed to the masses to maintain the law and order situation.

It comes after fresh violence erupted in Manipur’s Jiribam district, where a gun battle erupted between two armed groups after an elderly man was shot dead while asleep. The armed militants engaged in a heavy exchange of fire in the Nunchapi area, leaving three suspected Kuki militants dead and an armed Meitei man.

“Today early morning suspected Kuki militants attacked a village in which one senior citizen was killed by armed miscreants. The village volunteers were also confronted and there was an exchange of fire, forces rushed there and they were also fired upon and then they retaliated. The situation was controlled, three miscreant bodies were found,” said K Kabib, IPS, Intelligence Unit during a press briefing in Imphal.

Fresh Wave of Violence In Manipur

Manipur witnessed rocket attacks on Friday that killed a man staying on the premises of late former chief minister Mairenbam Koireng and destroyed two structures in the Bishnupur district.

Earlier in the week, two people were killed and several others were injured after drones were used by the militants to drop crude bombs on villages in Imphal West. Such was commotion that Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh called them ‘acts of terrorism.’

“Manipur state government takes such unprovoked assault with utmost seriousness and will take up necessary response to fight such forms of terrorism upon the indigenous population.”

Kabib said the state police force has deployed an anti-drone system at various locations and more supplies are being bought to tackle the air strikes.

The new action plan of militants carrying air strikes remained unheard of so far in the state where ethnic violence left over 200 people dead and thousands homeless since May last year.