In a significant escalation of the ongoing ethnic conflict in India’s Manipur state, militants used grenade-laden drones to kill two people in Imphal West district on Sunday, according to police reports.
The attack, targeting government forces, is described as an “unprecedented” development in the conflict. Police indicated that the use of drones for deploying explosives represents a major escalation, possibly involving highly trained professionals with technical expertise.
The violence in Manipur, which borders Myanmar, has intensified since clashes erupted in May last year between the Meitei Hindu majority and the Christian Kuki community. The conflict, sparked by a proposed government policy favoring the Meitei, has resulted in over 200 deaths and displaced approximately 50,000 people.
In the latest incident, a 31-year-old woman was killed, and her eight-year-old daughter was injured. Six people were wounded in total, and several homes were damaged due to the militants’ heavy shelling.
The conflict in Manipur has been marked by deep ethnic tensions, with the Meitei holding significant political and economic power in the valley regions, while the Kuki and other tribal groups, residing in the hilly areas, have grievances over land and resource distribution.
The situation had briefly calmed since April, following the deaths of two paramilitary soldiers, but this recent drone attack signals a potential escalation. Additionally, last year’s directive from the Manipur High Court for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to recommend tribal status for the Meitei, opposed by the Kukis, could further fuel tensions.
