Manipur government orders operations after deadly attack near Imphal West

The Manipur government has directed the state police to carry out search and disinfection operations in the areas bordering Imphal West district after an attack by suspected insurgents left two people dead and nine injured, officials said.

Commissioner (Home) N Ashok Kumar has asked the Director General of Police to arrest those involved and increase vigilance in the area to prevent further incidents.

In a letter to the DGP, the Commissioner stressed the need for preventive measures, noting that there had been continuous violence on the Keithelmanbi-Koutruk stretch since ethnic clashes broke out last year.

On Sunday, militants fired indiscriminately from mountaintops into lower areas, killing two people and wounding nine, police reports said. The attack, which used anti-tank guns and drones, caused violence to escalate significantly.

An official statement condemned the unprecedented attack in Koutruk and highlighted the use of drones to plant explosives, suggesting that highly trained professionals with technical expertise were involved.

According to sources, at least five drone bombs were dropped in Koutruk. Ethnic violence in Manipur left over 200 people dead and thousands homeless.

(With contributions from agencies.)