Manipur: Police to conduct combing operations following militant attack in Imphal West

Guwahati: The Manipur government has directed the state police to carry out search and combing operations in the bordering areas of the state’s Imphal West district where two people were killed and nine others left injured in a suspected militant attack on Sunday (September 1, 2024).

Following the attack, Manipur Home Commissioner N Ashok Kumar has asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to take measures to arrest the perpetrators of the attack and intensify surveillance in the area to prevent any untoward incident.

“In view of recent incidents disturbing general law and order situation in fringe areas bordering Imphal West district and the necessity to keep preventive measures in place, I am to request you to kindly take up necessary action to conduct combing operations and sanitisation of areas falling in fringe areas bordering Imphal West district more particularly in the stretch from Keithelmanbi to Koutruk,” Home Commissioner Kumar in a letter to the DGP said.

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In a post on microblogging site X, the Manipur Police late Sunday said, “In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, Imphal West, alleged Kuki militants have deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones. While drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfares, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and the civilians marks a significant escalation.”

“The involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and the police are prepared to respond to any contingency that may arise,” the post added.  

The police appealed to the general public to maintain restraint, adding, combing operations are ongoing to flush out any inimical elements.