Manipur fresh violence: One killed in bomb attack by suspected insurgents in Moirang

Digital Desk: In a tragic incident, an elderly man was killed during a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Moirang town, located in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Friday. The attack also left five others, including a 13-year-old girl, injured. This marks the second time in recent days that a minor has been wounded in similar attacks attributed to suspected Kuki insurgents.

The rocket struck the residence of Manipur’s first Chief Minister, Mairembam Koireng Singh, situated just 100 meters from the Indian National Army (INA) Museum, which is dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The museum is located near the banks of Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. Moirang town is historically significant as the site where the INA flag was first unfurled on April 14, 1944.

According to sources, the INA Museum may have been the intended target of the rocket attack. Eyewitnesses reported that the rocket originated from the direction of the hills. The elderly victim, a member of the Meitei community, was in the midst of prayers when shrapnel from the rocket struck him in the head, causing immediate death. The scene was described as grim, with blood spilling onto the floor among the prayer items he had gathered. The man was dressed in traditional Meitei attire, including a white khudei (dhoti) and a shawl.

This incident follows an earlier rocket attack today in the same district. Earlier in the morning, two rockets were fired from an elevated position in the neighboring Churachandpur district, which is predominantly Kuki. While no casualties were reported in this morning's attack, two structures were damaged. The range of these rockets was estimated to be over 3 kilometers.

The police have reported that suspected insurgents also fired several rounds from the hills into Bishnupur district, prompting a response from security forces. On Thursday night, Kumbi village residents near Tronglaobi observed multiple drones, adding to the escalating violence in the region.

This escalation follows a series of attacks over the past few days. On Sunday, two people were killed, and nine, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in firing and drone attacks by suspected Kuki insurgents. The injured girl was the daughter of one of the deceased. Another three individuals were wounded in a drone bomb attack in Senjam Chirang on Monday. Intelligence sources have confirmed the use of weaponized drones and long-range sniper rifles in these attacks, marking a disturbing trend of increased violence and advanced weaponry used against civilians in the region.