Manipur Govt retracts claim, says chances of planned attack by armed groups 'remote'

Less than a week after claiming on the basis of “reports received” that over 900 Kuki militants, trained in use of drone-based bombs and missiles, have entered Manipur from Myanmar and plan to launch multiple attacks on Meitei villages, the Manipur Government late on Wednesday evening said the information “could not be substantiated on ground” and “there is no basis currently to believe on any such inputs”.

A joint statement signed by security adviser to Manipur Government Kuldiep Singh and state DGP Rajiv Singh, said, “In view of the recent reactions from different communities regarding input of infiltration of 900 trained Kuki militants from Myanmar to carry out attacks on Meiteis on Sept 28, it is clarified that the input was verified from different quarters, but it could not be substantiated on ground. There is no basis currently to believe in any such input.

“However, security forces deployed on the ground are placed on a high alert to protect lives and properties of citizens. All communities are assured of their safety. They are advised not to believe in any rumours or unverified information.”

This development comes just six days after Kuldiep Singh in a press conference in Imphal on September 20 had said that reports have been received that over 900 Kuki militants, newly trained in the use of drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles and jungle warfare, have entered Manipur from Myanmar.

He had also said that these militants are expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around September 28.

The Manipur Government's claims had led to a lot of backlash from Kuki groups, which had dismissed them as “baseless”.

The Kuki Inpi group had even called for a total shutdown in all Kuki inhabited regions of the state on September 28, the purported date of attack planned reportedly by militants.

“It is the credence of the Kuki Inpi Manipur that such baseless statements may have been manufactured by the Manipur state government to justify a planned attack against the Kuki-Zo people,” Kuki Inpi had said in a statement on September 24.

Security forces seize arms, ammunition in Manipur

Imphal: Security forces seized a cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur's Thoubal district, a police statement said.

Assam Rifles and Manipur Police in a joint operation on Wednesday in Tekcham Maning Ching area seized one 7.62mm SLR along with empty magazine, two SMG carbine along with magazines, one .32 pistol and 9mm pistol along with an empty magazine, the statement said.

It also said that one 51mm para bomb, four HE-36 hand grenades without detonator, two electronic detonators, five explosives weighing 125 gm each, live ammunition, one stun grenade, one stinger grenade, and two 38 mm rubber bullets were also seized during the search operation.

In another operation a joint team of Army, BSF and police seized two large heavy calibre country made mortar (Pompis), and two grenades fron Nalon area of Churachandpur district, it added. — with PTI