Ambulance used by Kuki militants was from Leimakhong
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2024: The ambulance used by Kuki militants to ferry Kuki militants and take them to a spot to carry out a drone attack has been identified.

According to top Intelligence sources, the ambulance was reportedly traced back to the Leimakhong area.

Leimakhong is where the 57 Mountain Division is based and is home to a large number of Kuki people.

Social media and publications based in New Delhi have already convered the news, sending ripples across Manipur.

On September 1, Kuki militants used the ambulance as a cover to infiltrate the Meitei village under the guise of essential emergency services.

The Kuki militants then killed a 31-year-old woman and injured ten others including the daughter of the slain woman in Koutruk, Imphal West District, by dropping bombs.

Ambulance used by Kuki militants was from Leimakhong

The Manipur Police confirmed that Kukis have several highly sophisticated drones to carry out the kind of attack that was reported in Koutruk village on Monday.

The police have promised immediate action against those responsible for the attack.

After the attack, a woman was heard in the background of a video praising the actions of these militants and celebrating the death of a young woman.

The said video clip has also gone viral on the social media, drawing sharp comments from all over.

The video was circulated on social media in which Kuki militants in combat gear were seen threatening to expel all Meitei people from what they call "Kukiland", labelling them as militants.

The video also featured other militants armed with sophisticated weapons, further heightening fears of continued violence.

They warned Meiteis to leave the village within three days or "they will be kicked out" .

The attacks have brought the drug nexus in the State back in the news.

The social implications of the drug nexus in Manipur are also visible with people taking to the streets protesting against the Government for "not protecting them" .

According to top intelligence sources, a parallel drug economy of Rs 60,000 crore is running in Manipur, the control of which is in the hands of foreign agents like China, Myanmar, and Thailand.

The Golden Triangle is also near to the trouble torn State and Manipur has been used as a transit route for decades by the drugs cartel.

The number of drugs confiscated on the Imphal-Moreh route testifies this.

According to probe agencies, the drug economy is believed to have added muscle to the firing power of the Kukis, a group of people which is synonymous with poppy plantations and drug smuggling across the region.

After the ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023 in Manipur, the drug route was diverted to Mizoram and this is reflected in the increased cases of drug couriers being caught in the said State.

"The Myanmar drug cartel has spillover in Manipur and because of the hills and forests of Myanmar where we can see huge opium and poppy cultivation," said a source.

"Chinese businessmen are paying huge money to locals in Manipur and Myanmar to turn Manipur into a safe haven which can be further used to send drugs across India," the source added.

(With inputs from agencies) .