Manipur on high alert as intelligence report by CMO suggests 900 Kuki militants entered from Myanmar

Manipur is under a major security alert after intelligence input from the office of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh suggested an infiltration of more than 900 Kuki militants into the state from Myanmar, planning to launch coordinated attacks on villages in the Imphal valley on Sept 28, according to media reports.

“They are reportedly grouped in units of 30 members each and currently scattered in the periphery and expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around 28 Sep 2024,” the intelligence report suggests.

These militants are reportedly proficient in using drones, projectiles and jungle warfare.

On Sep 20, the BJP-led government's security advisor, Kuldiep Singh, said, "We believe this intelligence input is 100% correct and prepare for that until it is proven wrong."

"If it does not come true, either it didn't happen or our efforts didn't let it happen. Either way, you cannot take it lightly," said the ex-CRPF director general on deputation to Manipur since the ethnic conflict flared up in mid-2023.

According to the security advisor, Manipur Police and Assam Rifles border and district units are on high alert.

On Sep 18, the strategic operations group met. Singh said all relevant agencies had been informed of the planned actions, along with a mandate to "nip in the bud" any militant movement. The districts of Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, Kamjong, and Pherzawl are on high alert.

Traditional combing operations, according to Singh, concentrate on obtaining weapons, but there is currently "increased scrutiny" of materials used to make drone parts, rockets, missiles, and batteries.

"DMs have been alerted and asked to check stocks of explosives with licensed owners. All connected roads and villages within a 5km radius of the hills are also being checked for stockpiles,” he said.

The security advisor said that of the 2,681 weapons seized by security forces since the conflict started in Manipur, one-third were in the hills and two-thirds in the valley.

"The availability of weapons in society in both the hills and the valley is not because of looting (from state armouries and police stations).

They were already available much before (the ethnic conflict began). Single-barrel breech loaders and double-barrel breech-loaders were there, some of them licensed and some manufactured illegally," he added.