Drone attacked us while we were fleeing: Manipur residents forced to flee after new war tactics

A section of residents of Senjam Chirang in Manipur were forced to flee their homes and seek shelter in a nearby community hall after bombs dropped from a drone injured three members of a local resident’s family two days ago.

The first bomb pierced the roof of a 65-year-old farmer’s house, injuring his daughter. Minutes later, another bomb fell from the sky, injuring him and his son.

Watham Gambhir said the explosive that blew through the roof of his house was the second of three bombs dropped from a drone on Monday night at his home. The first damaged his cowshed, which was empty, and the third bomb injured him and his son, who took shelter under a tree after fleeing their home in Imphal West district.

Drones are a new technology that has recently been added to the weapons used in the violence between two large ethnic groups – Meitei and Kuki – in the northeastern state, which has left more than 200 people dead since May last year.

The use of the small, remote-controlled flying machine as a weapon was first observed on Sunday in Manipur, in Koutruk village in Imphal West district. Two people were killed and nine others injured in the attack, which also involved the use of firearms. Drones were again used the next day in Senjam Chirang, about 3 km away.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh has termed the dropping of bombs on civilians and security forces using drones as an act of terrorism. The state government has imposed restrictions on the import of drones or their components.

“On Sunday we became worried when we heard the drones buzzing. We also heard that bombs had been dropped on Koutruk. Our village became a target the next day,” Gambhir said.

The elderly farmer told PTI that he initially thought the buzzing sound was coming from random drones checking residential localities as Senjam Chirang had seen several gunfights before.

“However, within seconds, we heard a loud explosion. My son and I ran out into the yard and saw smoke coming out of the cow shed. The second bomb broke the roof of our bedroom, where my daughter was, and she was injured,” he said.

“We ran towards a tree, about 50 metres from the yard, to take cover, but the drone followed us there and dropped an explosive. We started running again, but were thrown forward by the impact of the explosion and were injured when we fell to the ground,” Gambhir said.

Naoba Singh, a village volunteer, suspects that the high-tech drones that can be used at night have been brought in from outside the country. Both the Meiteis and the Kukis have formed armed volunteer groups to protect their villages from attacks by the other community. “If sophisticated weapons can be obtained (from outside the country), why can’t high-tech drones that can be used in the dark be purchased?”

The three people injured in the Senjam Chirang attacks are being treated at a private hospital in Imphal.

“Now we are scared and cannot stay at home even during the day. About 10 families have taken shelter in a nearby community hall,” said another villager, W Inao.

A government official said the trend in the past was to buy drones from outside the state, but these were used for recreation.

“With the outbreak of violence, the two warring groups have used drones to monitor and track people’s movements,” he said. As to whether the drones used to drop bombs were purchased outside the country, a central force official told PTI that only an expert can confirm this.

“Without technical knowledge or instruction from outside the state, a local militant cannot make improvised drones that can carry heavy loads,” he explained.