Lagatar24 Desk
Imphal: An elderly man was killed and five others, including a 13-year-old girl, were injured in a rocket-propelled bomb attack by Kuki insurgents in Manipur’s Moirang town today, according to police reports. The attack occurred in Bishnupur district, about 35 km from the state capital, Imphal. This incident marks the second time in five days that minors have been injured in rocket and drone attacks by Kuki insurgents.
The rocket struck the house of Manipur’s first Chief Minister, Mairembam Koireng Singh, located just 100 meters away from the Indian National Army (INA) Museum in Moirang, a historic lakeside town near Loktak Lake. The museum, dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, is where the INA flag was first raised on Indian soil on April 14, 1944. It is believed that the INA Museum was the intended target of the attack.
The 78-year-old victim, identified as RK Rabei from the Meitei community, was offering prayers when shrapnel from the rocket hit him. He was found dead on the spot, with blood pooling around his prayer items. Witnesses reported that the rocket appeared to have been launched from the hills surrounding the area.
In response to the attack, the Manipur government has ordered all schools to be shut down due to ongoing threats from drone and rocket attacks.
This attack was the second rocket strike in the district today. Earlier in the morning, Kuki insurgents fired two rockets from elevated positions in the neighboring Churachandpur district, which is predominantly Kuki-dominated. While no injuries were reported from the morning attack, two structures were damaged, according to police. The range of these rockets was estimated to be over 3 km.
Tensions remain high as insurgents continue firing rounds from the hills into Bishnupur district, prompting security forces to retaliate. The use of drones has also raised alarms, with multiple drones being spotted in Kumbi village near Tronglaobi on Thursday night.
Last Sunday, two people were killed, and nine others, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in an attack involving drone bombs and sniper fire by suspected Kuki insurgents. That incident marked the first recorded use of drones to drop bombs on civilians by insurgents in India. Intelligence sources confirmed that weaponized drones and long-range sniper rifles were used in the attack on Koutruk village.
Following these attacks, protests erupted in the Imphal valley, with residents demanding swift military action against the Kuki insurgents, who are believed to be hiding in fortified bunkers in the hills. The escalating violence has heightened calls for stronger security measures to restore peace in the region.
The ongoing conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has seen a sharp increase in violence, raising concerns over the security situation in the region.
