The authenticity of the viral letter from the Chief Minister’s Office, alerting of 900 Kuki terrorists from Myanmar preparing to attack Manipur at multiple locations has been established with new evidence of security measures being undertaken following the alert came to light on Thursday.
Earlier on Tuesday, a letter purportedly issued from the chief minister of Manipur directed the Director General of Police (DGP) Manipur to take all necessary measures.
The letter mentioned that over 900 Kuki militants, newly trained in the use of drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles, and jungle warfare, have entered Manipur from Myanmar. It stated that these militants are reportedly grouped in units of 30 members each, scattered across the periphery, and are expected to launch multiple coordinated attacks on Meitei villages around September 28.
The said letter was also copied to the chief secretary, Security Advisor and the Commissioner (Home) of Manipur. The authenticity of the letter could not be confirmed earlier when it went viral.
However, another message issued on Thursday from senior SP Thoubal to additional SP Thoubal, OC Thoubal Police and other officials came to light, establishing that the CM’s office did send the message.
Notably, the latest letter from Senior SP Thoubal referred to ADGP (Law and Order), Manipur vide msg. no.1/10/10-ADGP(LO)/1182 dated 17/09/2024, indicating that the alert issued from CM was taken seriously by the Security Advisor and DGP this time.
The message from Senior SP Thoubal directed the recipients to take appropriate security measures in coordination with all security forces deployed in their respective areas, while referring to ADGP (Law and Order)’s message concerning the infiltration of 900 well trained Kuki militants into Manipur from Myanmar.
Recently, on September 1, Kuki terrorists launched an attack on Koutruk, a Meitei village in Imphal West, using drone bombs followed by gunfire, including suspected sniper rifles. The attack resulted in the death of one woman, while her daughter sustained a bullet injury.
A similar drone attack was also conducted on September 2 at an IRB bunker in Sinam, Imphal East, during which three assault rifles were snatched from IRB personnel.
Later, on September 6, Kuki militants fired a long-range rocket to attack the residence of the first Chief Minister of Manipur, Mairembam Koireng Singh, in Moirang, Bishnupur district. In the attack, a 72-year-old man was killed after sustaining splinter injuries, and five other individuals were injured. A similar long-range rocket attack was also carried out in Tronglaobi, Bishnupur district, on the same morning.
Earlier, a similar confidential official letter from the Chief Minister’s office, signed by the secretary to the chief minister N Geoffrey, also went viral on social media. The letter directed the DGP, Manipur, to take precautionary measures, stating that about 200 armed Kuki-Zo militants had moved from Churachandpur and reached Phaitol village, Old and New Keiphundai areas of Tamenglong, bordering Jiribam district.
The official letter was sent to the DGP, Manipur on January 15. After months, violence erupted in Jiribam district after a 59-year-old man was killed on June 7 by Kuki militants.
Recently, the president of the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Delhi Paojakhup Guite, admitted in a TV discussion that the Kukis can manufacture long-distance rockets capable of travelling over 7 km.
Since the violence erupted on May 3, 2023, over 60,000 individuals have been displaced; thousands of houses and other structures demolished, and over 235 individuals were killed.
