Deadly drone attack in India's Manipur state
Ethnic group in India’s northeastern Manipur state executed a deadly attack on security forces, using drones to drop explosives—a tactic police have called a 'significant escalation' of violence.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in the death of a 31-year-old woman and left six others injured, including an eight-year-old girl. The assailants used drones to drop rocket-propelled grenade heads, marking a new and dangerous method in the ongoing conflict.
Since May 2023, Manipur has been engulfed in violence stemming from clashes between the majority Hindu Meitei community and the mainly Christian Kuki group. This ethnic conflict has claimed the lives of at least 200 people.
In various parts of the state, which shares a border with conflict-ridden Myanmar, rival militias have established blockades, further intensifying the situation.
The longstanding strife between these groups is rooted in competition for land and government jobs. Human rights activists have accused local politicians of fueling ethnic tensions for their own political advantage.
While the use of drone bombs is not new in warfare, this particular instance of deploying drones to target security forces and civilians represents a significant escalation, according to a statement from Manipur police on September 1.
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