An elderly man was killed and five others, including a 13-year-old girl, were injured when suspected militants launched a bomb attack on a residential area in Moirang, Bishnupur district on Friday afternoon. The bomb, identified as an improvised rocket, struck the compound of former Chief Minister Mairembam Koireng’s residence. The elderly man was preparing for religious rituals when the explosion occurred, resulting in his immediate death.
This attack is the second rocket strike in the district on the same day, news agency PTI reported. The incident occurred approximately two kilometres from the Indian National Army (INA) headquarters, which is historically significant as it was the site where Lieutenant Colonel Shaukat Ali hoisted the Tricolour for the first time on Indian soil on April 14, 1944, under the guidance of INA Supreme Commander Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Earlier on Friday, a rocket was also fired from an elevated position in the nearby hill areas toward the residential locality of Tronglaobi, about 45 km from the state capital Imphal.
Manipur Violence: Human Chains In Imphal Protest Drone Attacks
In response to escalating violence, thousands of people across five districts of Imphal Valley formed human chains on Friday to protest recent drone and gun attacks in Manipur, which have resulted in two civilian deaths and 12 injuries. The protest was organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and saw school and college students, as well as local women, participating in the demonstration, PTI reported.
Participants formed human chains in Thoubal Bazar, Lilong Chajing in Thoubal district, and Sekmai, Kwakeithel, and Singjamei in Imphal West district, voicing their dissatisfaction with the government's handling of the ongoing conflict. They carried placards with slogans such as 'Drone bombing is an act of terrorism,' 'We condemn Manipur government's timidity,' 'Take action against Kuki terrorists,' 'Manipur's territorial and administrative integrity cannot be compromised,' and 'We want peace; save Manipur', according to PTI's report.
P Herojit Singh, a youth leader from Khurai in Imphal East district, condemned the drone and gun attacks, describing them as unprovoked and targeting local villagers. He urged the central government to take appropriate action against the perpetrators, highlighting that the conflict has escalated from communal violence to terrorist attacks using sophisticated, high-tech weapons sourced from abroad.
According to the report, Singh noted that such acts are not tolerated elsewhere in the country, questioning why they are allowed to persist in Manipur. During the protests, major markets were closed, and vehicles were off the roads.
The recent escalation in violence, including the use of drones, has intensified the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state, which has claimed over 200 lives since May of last year. The use of drones as a weapon first became apparent on September 1 in Koutruk village, with subsequent attacks in Senjam Chirang causing further injuries.