Manipur Residents Turn Off Lights Amid Rising Drone Attacks and Security Concerns

New Delhi: Residents in Manipur’s Bishnupur and Imphal East districts turned off their lights on Friday night following multiple drone sightings. This precautionary measure comes in response to recent incidents where militants used drones to drop bombs in nearby areas.

Security forces are on high alert in the peripheral regions, closely monitoring large gatherings and movements. In Bishnupur district, several illumination rounds were fired into the sky, adding to public panic and confusion. It remains unclear whether these rounds were fired by security forces or other entities.

Earlier in the day, suspected militants launched rocket attacks on the residence of Manipur’s first chief minister, Mairembam Koireng. The attack resulted in one death and six injuries. In response, security forces destroyed three militant bunkers in the neighboring Churachandpur district. The Manipur police reported that militants had deployed long-range rockets in Bishnupur, resulting in the death of a senior citizen and injuries to six others.

Aerial patrolling using a military helicopter is underway, and high-level security meetings are being held to assess the situation. The first recorded use of drones as a weapon in Manipur occurred on September 1 in Koutruk village, Imphal West district, where guns were also used, killing two and injuring nine. The following day, another drone attack in Senjam Chirang, about three kilometers away, resulted in injuries to three individuals.