Days after an intelligence input regarding “over 900 Kuki militants” from Myanmar entering Manipur was circulated among the public, Security Adviser to the Manipur government, Kuldiep Singh, said security agencies have been put on high alert in the hill districts bordering Myanmar. On Tuesday, a copy of an intelligence input from the Chief Minister’s Office to the Director General of Police, Security Adviser, and Home Commissioner, surfaced, raising alarm in the state’s Meitei majority valley. The input, dated September 16, said that “reports have been received that over 900 Kuki militants, newly trained in the use of drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles and jungle warfare have entered Manipur from Myanmar”. It claimed that the militants are grouped in units of 30 and are “scattered in the periphery”, and are “likely to launch coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around 28 September 2024”. Following the incidents of violence in the state since September 1, Singh said he had chaired a Strategic Operation Group meeting convened on September 18, bringing together top officials from security agencies, including the Army, Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and the state police, among others. This intelligence input was discussed in the meeting. “We have shared the inputs with the top brasses of these agencies, including the intelligence and the measures to tackle eventualities. Not only did the state instruct these agencies to intensify checking, we have also informed the district authorities to be on high alert, including in Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, and Ukhrul,” Singh said. The state has witnessed a series of violent incidents since September 1, including the alleged use of drones to drop bombs in the foothill villages of Koutruk and Senjam Chirang, and long-range improvised rockets being fired at villages in Bishnupur district. Singh said one unfired rocket and three fired rockets — each measuring 9-10 feet in length and weighing approximately 30 kg — have been recovered since then. He said that to counter potential threats effectively, the security forces also destroyed 468 bunkers so far. “So far, 15-17 drones have been successfully jammed.,” he said.
