The ongoing conflict in Manipur has taken a dangerous turn with militants now using sophisticated modern weapons. A recent incident on September 6 exemplifies this shift, as a rocket fired by Kuki militants caused fatalities and injuries, highlighting the escalating security challenges faced by the administration.
The rocket, measuring 23.8 kg in weight, 5 cm in thickness, and nine feet in length, was launched at 3:40 p.m. on September 6. It traveled approximately 5-6 km from the hills before landing near the residence of the state’s first chief minister, Mairembam Koireng Singh, in Moirang. The attack resulted in the death of RK Rabei Singh, a 72-year-old Meitei man, and injuries to five of Singh’s relatives, including a 13-year-old girl.
Since the resurgence of violence on September 1, at least 10 people have been killed. The conflict, which initially erupted on May 3 of the previous year between the dominant Meiteis and the tribal Kukis, has intensified, claiming 225 lives and leading to a divided state with Meiteis concentrated in the valley and Kukis in the hills.
After a brief respite of nearly three months, violence re-erupted on September 1 with militants using drones to drop grenades, marking the first instance of aerial bombings in the state. Officials report a concerning escalation in weaponry sophistication, including improvised rockets capable of traveling 5-7 km and drones used for bombings.
Senior military officials are alarmed by the level of sophistication in the weaponry. “The rockets we are recovering even have metallic fins attached to maintain balance. One recovered rocket had fins measuring 14.5 inches welded on,” revealed a senior officer, who wished to remain anonymous.
The new developments underscore the growing complexity of the conflict in Manipur and the increasing need for enhanced security measures.
He detailed that the rockets consist of two main components: an explosive warhead and a propellant section. The outer shell is made from metallic tubes, either GI pipes or iron cast. Inside this shell, a crude bomb is packed using materials such as urea or ammonium nitrate, along with metal chips or cycle ball bearings.
Senior officials from the home department noted that Manipur Police had issued alerts to all security forces in August regarding militants testing rockets. “These reports were not taken seriously at the time. It now appears that the warnings were valid,” a senior Manipur police officer commented.
In the past 10 days, rockets have been fired in at least two locations — Molphai Tampa and Tronglaobi — within Manipur’s Bishnupur district, resulting in one death and over six injuries.
The officer also indicated that the rocket launchers used were advanced versions of homemade pumpi guns — essentially crude bombs placed inside pipes and fired at a 45-degree angle. The police reported recovering nearly 400-500 pumpi guns over the past year.
“While militants in the Northeast have used these devices since World War II, not everyone progresses to using rocket launchers that can travel 7 km or drones capable of dropping explosives,” the officer added.
Drones
Drones have emerged as a new concern in the ongoing conflict in Manipur, with reports indicating that militants are using them to drop bombs. On September 1, several drones were reportedly employed to carry out attacks near the border between Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Imphal West is primarily inhabited by Meiteis, while Kukis form the majority in Kangpokpi.
Photographs of an unexploded bomb from the attack, which have been sent for forensic analysis, suggest it originated from Kuki groups. The Manipur Police noted that the bomb carried insignia, a claim disputed by tribal groups. According to a second Manipur police officer, the bomb landed in a mud area and failed to detonate.
During the September 1 attack in Koutruk, the situation escalated quickly. “Our SP and IG had to take cover and retreat to their bulletproof vehicles when drones began dropping bombs. Nearly 30-40 bombs were dropped that day, including two types of explosives: one with a metal shell and another with a plastic shell marked ‘Kukiland,’” the officer reported.
Police have found that many of the drones used in the attack were assembled from parts available online. A drone recovered from the hills near Koutruk village confirms this. The Assam Police had previously intercepted attempts to smuggle flight batteries into Manipur in June and July, which now appear to be connected to the drone attacks, according to the officer.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body representing all Kuki tribes, has accused the state government of fabricating a narrative by attributing the drone bombings to Kuki militants.
Snipers
Police have reported a troubling increase in the use of snipers in the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
A senior military officer explained that while Meiteis are situated in the valley and Kukis in the hills, confrontations often occur when one group moves into the other’s territory. “Both sides understand that a sniper’s precise shot can demoralize advancing troops more effectively than traditional combat,” the officer said. “Snipers have equipped their rifles with powerful telescopes to ensure accurate aiming and successful initial hits.”
During the first year of the conflict, daily gunfights were common. However, such direct clashes have decreased as snipers, concealed in bunkers and trees, employ telescopic rifles to target opponents from a distance. The latest evidence of this shift was on September 9, when a 7.62 mm modified telescopic sniper rifle was recovered from the jungles of Lhunkhojang Ridge in Kangpokpi district.
Shifting Tactics
On September 8, a police investigation revealed that among the four men killed in a gunfight in Jiribam the previous day, three were militants from the Kuki Liberation Army, a group that had signed a peace agreement with the Centre in 2008. The fourth belonged to the Pambei faction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF-P), another banned outfit that signed a peace treaty with the Centre in December 2023.
“We have reports that some militants are now equipping their rifles with MGLs (multiple grenade launchers). The question is: who’s teaching them to craft such advanced weaponry?” a mid-level central security force officer commented.
Paramilitary officials noted that the nature of the conflict is evolving. Snipers with telescopic rifles have made crossing physical boundaries unnecessary, and grenades stolen from armories are now being used in new ways.
“In the last 10 days alone, we’ve recovered 36 grenades, all HE 36 (High Explosive 36 grenades). With access to rockets, grenades are becoming obsolete. Instead, they’re using them to burn down abandoned houses, like the one destroyed in Thangbuh village on September 8,” a police officer explained.
These developments have compounded the challenges for security forces in a state already grappling with maintaining law and order amid ongoing sectarian violence.
“Last week, after we encountered improvised rocket launchers with a range of 5-7 feet, some bureaucrats asked me about drone bombs and where militants are learning to modify weapons,” said a senior army officer in Manipur who monitors both sides of the conflict closely. “Maybe it’s Myanmar, maybe local militants, or maybe it’s just that age-old saying: necessity is the mother of invention.”
