UAO over Imphal airport serious challenge: Joykumar
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 20 2023: Maintaining that the Unidentified Aerial Object (UAO) seen hovering in the airspace of Imphal International Airport for around 3 hours is a major challenge to the security of the state, National People's Party (NPP) national vice-president Yumnam Joykumar said that the government should take the matter seriously and investigate the object instead of seemingly being satisfied that it had disappeared.

Addressing a press meet at the party's office on Monday, the former deputy chief minister said that the object should not be taken as a random or isolated matter considering the present situation in the state.

There is high possibility of the object being an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) but not a simple drone.

Unlike simple drones with short range, tactical UAVs are used by military.

Recounting that during his stint in the BSF, he had seen several UAVs from Pakistan entering Indian airspace posing a major security challenge to the country, Joykumar explained that UAVs are of different types, sizes and ranges with the capacity to carry multiple payloads including bombs.

During his one year stint as IG provisioning in BSF, the border force discussed acquisition of UAVs.

When he was the DGP of Manipur police, UAVs of Indian Army were used for surveillance purpose in Loktak Operation.

Due to those postings, he has fair knowledge of UAVs and their capabilities, Joykumar said.

Regarding Sunday's sighting over Imphal Airport, the flying object, if equipped with explosive payloads, can cause explosion of commercial flight upon collision.

Considering the landlocked condition of the state and how people in the valley are relying on air transport, Sunday's incident should not be ignored as a mere situation, he said, while expressing his suspicion that it could an attempt to close the air transport route.

The former DGP further said that there were multiple incidents of Kuki militants using drones to drop bombs in the foothill villages during the ongoing conflict.

In Sunday's case, the suspected UAV was not shot down but disappeared after forcing flight service to halt for around four hours.

Flight service resumed only after Airport Authority gave clearance.

Unfortunately, the government has not issued any statement in this regard, he pointed out, while terming the silence of the government as a serious matter.

On the other hand, there is no report of any reaction from the ministry of home affairs or defence.

It would be a disastrous moment for Meeteis if the UAV caused any air disaster, Joykumar cautioned.

He then urged the government to take the matter seriously and investigate the origin, identity and reason for the suspected UAV.

If it was a military grade UAV, the intelligence agencies should have prior intelligence report of a possible airborne UAV.

Even if such intelligence report was missed, stringent investigation should be done so that future recurrence could be avoided, he said.

Joykumar further demanded the chief minister to convene a cabinet meeting over the incident and a joint meeting of the security council as well.

There were recent incidents of BSF taking down UAVs from Pakistan.

Considering the use of such UAVs and drones in modern warfare, the government should constitute and train a drone squad of the state police force to operate or shoot down UAVs, he proposed.

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