Even after a year of violence, the hope of restoring peace in Manipur is fading away. Violent incidents have increased in the valley of Manipur since September 1. The situation is so dire that now bombing is being done through drones in these attacks and residential areas are also being targeted using RPGs. Aaj Tak has been continuously reaching you every report from violence-hit Manipur and once again Aaj Tak correspondent Ashutosh Mishra is at ground zero in Manipur.
Seeing the hopes of restoring peace in Manipur shattered, the local organization in Imphal valley has declared a public emergency. In this public emergency, the central security forces have been warned that if they do not take action against the Kuki organizations and peace is not restored, they will have to leave Manipur. The effect of the public emergency is also being seen in the busy areas of Imphal, where shops and houses are closed and traffic on the roads has almost stopped.
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‘Why is there no peace in Manipur?’
Ratan, a resident of Imphal, asks why there is no peace in Manipur despite all the efforts? And what is the state government as well as the central government doing. Ratan says that due to increasing violence, people have declared a public emergency.
Aaj Tak’s team also reached the village, about 30 km from Imphal, where this aggressive phase of violence started on September 1. Kotruk village in West Imphal district was bombed using drones. After 2 pm on September 1, drones from the hilly areas started dropping bombs, and many houses caught fire and vehicles and properties were burnt to ashes.
Many houses have fresh marks of rockets falling on their roofs and the walls have been hit by Sprinter. Houses have been burnt and people have fled the village. Langham, an eyewitness of that day and the incident, tells how 3 to 4 drones dropped bombs in large numbers, causing panic in the area.
Apart from drones, attacks are also being carried out using RPGs
Not only drones but RPGs were also used. Till last year, in such incidents, rockets were fired by making pumpy guns using local pipes, whose range was very less but this time technology was used in the attack. Modern rocket launcher guns were made which have a long range of firepower. Rocket shells from RPG destroyed many houses in the village. The attack also affected the IRB camps built in the village. The jawan of the central force showed Aaj Tak the places where the pieces of the rocket fell.
However, bunkers have been built in the valley and the areas adjoining the mountains for the last one year, where people of both the communities are standing with their weapons pointed at each other. Even today these bunkers are built and no one knows when someone will start firing bullets at whom. A volunteer of Gramin Rakshak Dal told Aaj Tak, hiding his identity, that he is staying in these bunkers to protect his village. This youth alleges that the attack was done from the mountains, while they are standing for protection.
Also read: There will be no mercy for those who indulge in violence in Manipur! Anti-drone system deployed, security forces will get more weapons
People standing facing each other with weapons pointed!
Military grade binoculars have been deployed at one part, which work as a supporter through which it can be known from which part of the mountain their enemies are firing. There are walkie-talkie radio sets in the bunkers, and military grade bullet proof jackets and helmets are also kept for self-defense. In the communal violence in Manipur, sophisticated weapons are also being used, but those weapons are hidden in front of the camera and what is visible is a desi bore rifle and a lot of desi cartridges.
In these villages, armed youths have taken up positions in the name of Village Defense Force and military grade sniper rifles can also be seen on their shoulders. Security agencies are conducting combing operations and seizing weapons from various places, which include RPG grenades and high-end assault rifles.
The Chief Minister asked for the responsibility of security
On the other hand, the Chief Minister of Manipur has met the Governor and is demanding that the responsibility and powers of security in the state be returned to him, because at present the responsibility of law and order and security has been handed over by the Central Government to the Security Advisor appointed by the Home Ministry.
In view of the threat of drones, central agents have also deployed anti-drone systems in Manipur, but a period of violence has begun. No one has an answer as to when it will be curbed. Aaj Tak is constantly on ground zero and will keep bringing every report to you.
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