A woman was killed, and her 12-year-old daughter was injured in firing by suspected insurgents in Manipur today, sources said. Two policemen were also injured; both are out of danger, sources said. One of the policemen was hit in the leg by a shrapnel from a bomb dropped by a drone, police sources said, adding at least two weaponised drones were seen. Other security forces are yet to confirm the sighting of the "weaponised drones".
The firing started from Nakhujang village in Kangpokpi towards Kadangband in Imphal West at 2.35 pm, sources said.
Residents in Kadangband said at least one drone dropped a "bomb" on a house in the area. They have shared purported visuals of the drone dropping a bomb, while people ran for cover. Sources in the security forces, however, said they are yet to look into this claim.
Some people guarding their houses in Kadangband retaliated, sources said.
A man shows a part of what appears to be a mortar round that landed in a house in Kadangband
The woman, identified as Ngangbam Surbala, 31, was brought dead at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the state capital Imphal, 45 km from Kangpokpi.
Kangpokpi is a Kuki-dominated area, while Imphal West is in the Meitei-dominated valley. The Kuki tribes and the Meitei community have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues.
Who Started Firing? Allegations Fly
While members of the Meitei community claimed "Kuki terrorists" killed the woman, social media users from the Kuki tribes alleged the Meiteis began firing at Kuki villages in Kangpokpi first.
Manipur Congress vice president Lamtinthang Haokip, who belongs to the Kuki tribe, in a post on X alleged an attempt to ambush between Leimakhong and Kangchup route was thwarted by Kuki village volunteers, resulting in an exchange of fire.
He alleged the incident was a "BJP game" to diver attention from the audio tape controversy linked to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who is from the ruling BJP and belongs to the Meitei community.
Since May 2023, visuals from Manipur have flooded social media every time a big incident such as firing happened. Unless the security forces verified them, the authorities have asked people to be cautious to avoid spreading misinformation.
The roof of a house which the locals claimed was damaged by a bomb dropped using a drone
Both sides have shared purported visuals of the firing from different angles. What's a first - if confirmed by the security forces - would be the use of the weaponised drones in Manipur.
The drones may have been used as spotters and to direct fire, while the crude artillery "pumpi guns" fired the shells which landed right near where the drones were flying, sources said, adding this may have given an impression that the bombs were dropped by the drones.
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