Manipur DGP forms panel to study use of 'weaponised hobby drones' by militants

GUWAHATI: Central and state forces deployed in the cauldron of Manipur's 16-month-long ethnic conflict are looking askance at the skies that harbour a new threat - drones used by suspected tribal militants to bomb targets - and awaiting NSG's expertise to win the aerial battle bef-ore it gets out of hand.

"This adds another dimension to the conflict. We have spoken to the director general of NSG and his team. Experts are coming here. We have some counter-measures that we will deploy," DGP Rajiv Singh told TOI.

Since May last year, more than 225 people have been killed, hundreds wounded, and thousands displaced in the conflict that has widened the hills-valley divide. Weaponised drones in the hands of militants make the challenge of restoring peace doubly difficult for police and central forces trained in traditional combat. There are currently some 60,000 central personnel in Manipur.

Drone bombing destroyed three India Reserve Battalion bunkers in Meikhang village of Imphal East district around 2.30am on Monday.

BJP legislator R K Imo Singh emailed Union home minister Amit Shah in the evening, saying the deployment of a 60,000-strong contingent of central forces had failed to restore law and order in the state after over a year of violence.The MLA, who is also son-in-law of CM N Biren Singh, urged Shah to withdraw CAPF that were "mostly present as mute spectators" and allow state forces "to take charge and bring peace". He said drone strikes were a sign of things to come, forcing people to question Centre "regarding actions related to stopping this violence".

Singh requested Shah that the reins of Unified Command currently overseeing law and order should be handed to state. He welcomed removal of some units of Assam Rifles that allegedly weren't cooperating with state govt and the public, referring to recent decision to recall two battalions from the "buffer zones" and replace them with CRPF.

CM Biren Singh visited Senjam Chirang village, where a woman Watham Sanatombi Devi, was wounded when two bombs dropped by drones exploded on her home.

On Monday, bombs rained on three IRB bunkers at Meikhang village near Sinam in Imphal East. After reinforcements arrived, a gunfight raged for nearly two hours, forcing the militants to flee. They took away an INSAS Rifle, a Kalashnikov, and an LMG from bunkers, sources said.

MLA Imo Singh urged home minister to abrogate agreements for suspension of operations against tribal militant groups that were "constantly behind the spread of further violence". Congress termed the drone bombings a threat to national security, saying even Raj Bhavan and CM's residence might not be safe.