AR ex-DG denies use of drones, rockets by Kuki militants
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 09 2024: Lieutenant General Pradeep Chandran Nair, former Director General of Assam Rifles (DGAR), has denied reports about use of drones for aerial bombing and long-range rocket missiles by Kuki militants in the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

He categorically denied claims that drones were being used to drop ammunition in the state, stating that reports of such activities are based on misinformation and false media narratives.

Contrary to the general officer's assertion, on September 1, in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Manipur Police highlighted the unprecedented nature of the attack, which involved the use of drones to drop multiple rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) .

"In an unprecedented attack in Koutruk, Imphal West, alleged Kuki militants deployed numerous RPGs using high-tech drones.

While drone bombs have commonly been used in general warfare, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and the civilians marks a significant escalation.

The involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out," the post read.

The police statement also con firmed the fatalities and injuries in the attack.

On September 7 too, Manipur Police post on X confirmed Kuki militants of deploying long-range rockets targeting civilian areas in two locations within Bishnupur district.

However, in an interview with News9 Live on Monday, Lt Gen PC Nair said that although drones or quadcopters are in use in Manipur, their purpose is not for offensive operations.

"Drones are indeed being used, but not to drop ammunition.

I've checked with military sources on the ground, the Assam Rifles, and even confirmed it with the Army Chief," he said, stressing that much of the footage circulating on social media, allegedly showing drone-dropped bombs in Manipur, is misleading.

"The pictures and videos being shared are actually from places like Palestine and Myanmar, not from Manipur," he added.

PC Nair reiterated that no ammunition had been dropped using drones in the ongoing conflict and that stray bullets, not shrapnel from drone attacks, caused casualties like the death of a woman in Koutruk village.

He, however, failed to mention the injury of several civilians and state police, who were hit by shrapnel of bombs dropped using drones in Koutruk on September 1 .

He also failed to mention the recovery of 3D printed tail section of bomb shells dropped by drones, and subsequent confiscation of a drone from a Kuki village by security forces the next day.

Commenting on the broader usage of drones, he noted that they are frequently deployed for non-military purposes such as photography, agriculture, and weather forecasting.

He pointed out that Assam Rifles and the Indian Army have already shot down around 30 to 40 drones or quadcopters in the Manipur conflict, further dismissing the notion that these drones were involved in attacks against civilians or security forces.

Regarding the use of long-range rockets, he refuted claims of militants using sophisticated rocket missiles.

"It's not a rocket missile, it's a crude, indigenous weapon called 'Pumpi'," he explained.

These makeshift devices, often used in Myanmar and Manipur, consist of modified barrels filled with TNT or other explosives.

However, he emphasised that these weapons are far from reliable, noting that many times the explosives detonate prematurely within the barrel, sometimes even killing the person attempting to fire them.

Here, he also failed to mention the Myanmar or Hamas styled rocket landed at Tronglaobi obliterating a toilet complex attached to a house in an early morning attack.

He, yet again, did not mention the death of an elderly man when one such rocket fell in the compound of the house of former chief minister M Koireng, which also left six others injured.

The former DG also criticised how the media has sensationalised the issue, portraying these crude weapons as advanced military-grade rockets.

He argued that while the situation in Manipur is dire, misinformation has only served to escalate tensions and distort the reality of the conflict on the ground, "The media plays it up as if it's something very alarming, but these are indigenous, makeshift weapons, not advanced warfare technologies," he said.

Mention may be made that there was an incident of Assam Rifles blocking the gate of Sugnu police station using one of their Casspir vehicles leading to a heated argument between the two forces.

Earlier this year, there was another incident of Assam Rifles blocking the road preventing Manipur police from entering a shootout site in the bordering area of Churachandpur and Bishnupur district.

There are allegations that many of the attacks bases of Kuki militants are close to AR posts, though Assam Rifles had also issued multiple denial of being biased in the current crisis.

Comment