Villagers terrified by drone attacks, avoid home
Source: Chronicle News Service / Chingkheinganba Phanjoubam

Imphal, September 06 2024: A section of villagers of Senjam Chirang in Manipur have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge in a nearby community hall after bombs dropped from drones injured three members of a family recently.

The first bomb smashed through the roof of a 65-year-old farmer's house, injuring his daughter.

Minutes later, another bomb fell from the sky and injured him and his son.

Watham Gambhir said the explosive that landed on the roof of his house was the second of three dropped on Monday evening.

The first one damaged his cowshed, which was empty, and the third injured him and his son, who took shelter under a tree after rushing out from home.

Drones are a new technology added recently to the weapons used in the violence between the Meetei and Kuki communities in the state, which left over 200 people dead since May last year.

The use of the remote-controlled small flying device as a weapon was first noticed in Manipur on Sunday at Koutruk village, also in Imphal West district.

In the attack in which sophisticated firearms were also used, two persons were killed and scores left injured.

Drones were employed again in Senjam Chirang, around three km away, the next day.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh has described the dropping of bombs on the civilian population and security forces using drones as an act of terrorism.

The state government has imposed restrictions on the import of drones or their components.

"We became concerned when we heard the buzzing sound of drones on Sunday.

We also heard that bombs were dropped in Koutruk.

Our village became the target the next day," said Gambhir.

The elderly farmer told PTI that he initially thought the buzz was coming from random drones checking residential localities as Senjam Chirang has witnessed several gunfights before.

"However, within seconds, we heard a loud explosion.

I along with my son rushed outside in the courtyard and saw smoke billowing from the cow shed.

The second bomb broke the CI sheet roof of our bedroom where my daughter was and she was injured," he said.

"We ran towards a tree, some 50 metres frorh the courtyard, to take cover but the drone followed us there and dropped an explosive.

We started running again but we were thrown forward by the impact of the blast and were injured after hitting the ground," Gambhir said.

Naoba Singh, a villager volunteer, suspects that hi-tech drones that can be used at night were brought from outside the country.

Both Meeteis and Kukis formed armed volunteer groups to protect their villages from attack by the other community.

Naoba said, "If sophisticated weapons can be sourced (from outside the country), why can't sophisticated drones that can be used in the dark be procured by those operating it?" The three persons injured in the bombings in Senjam Chirang are undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Imphal.

"We are scared now and not staying at home even during the daytime.

Around 10 families have taken refuge in a nearby community hall," said another villager W Inao.

A government official said that earlier, the trend was to purchase drones from outside the state but those were used for recreational purpose.

"With the outbreak of the violence, drones have been used by the two warring groups for surveillance and tracking movement of people, " he noted.

Asked whether the drones used in dropping bombs were purchased from outside the country, a central security force official told PTI that only an expert can confirm that.

"Without technical know-how or instruction from outside the state, a local militant cannot make improvised drones which can carry heavy payloads," he said.

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