The Manipur government on Friday ordered all schools across the state to remain closed on September 7 amid rising violence and unrest. The Directorate of Education issued an order saying that all government, private and central schools will remain closed to ensure the safety of students and teachers. The notification issued by the government said, “In view of the unrest and the prevailing situation in the state and keeping in mind the safety of students and teachers, all government and private schools including central schools will remain closed on September 7.
Rocket attack in Manipur, security forces on alert
One person was killed and five others injured when suspected militants fired two rockets in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Friday. Tension has escalated in the Imphal valley region following a series of ‘hi-tech’ attacks in the last few days. Earlier this week, bombs were dropped on people at two places in Imphal West district using drones. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in the state since May last year.
Thousands of people in five districts of the Imphal Valley formed human chains on Friday to protest attacks by militants. The Manipur government has announced closure of schools on September 7 in view of the unrest caused by the bomb attacks. The first rocket attack on Friday occurred at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district at around 4:30 am, damaging two buildings, officials said. At around 3 pm, the second rocket hit the residential complex of former chief minister Mairembam Koireng in the busy Moirang town, killing an elderly man and injuring five others, including a 13-year-old girl.
Terrorists launching rocket missiles
“Security forces are on high alert…,” a central force official said. The “directional” rocket missiles were locally developed and were fired from the Thangjing hills in Churachandpur district towards the lower Moirang town, the officials said. All markets and business establishments were closed in Moirang town, the rest of Bishnupur district and border areas of neighbouring districts in the state following the two attacks in a span of about 10 hours, they said.
An official said the attacks have exposed the loopholes in the security arrangements put in place to curb the conflict in the state. Local MLA T. Shanthi and minister L. Sushinro Meitei visited the spot and interacted with the locals. “People are upset. Earlier, when there was a gun attack, volunteers guarding nearby villages would retaliate to stop the militants from advancing. However, this is a new form of warfare for which no one is prepared,” said a local volunteer from a village.
Use of drones as weapons
72-year-old RK Rabi Singh was killed and five others were injured in the rocket attack on Friday. The attack took place near the historic INA headquarters. The injured have been admitted to a hospital. “Rabi Singh was preparing for some religious rituals in the complex when the blast occurred,” an official said. The use of drones as a weapon in Manipur was first seen on September 1 in Kotruk village of Imphal West district. Two people were killed and nine others were injured in the attack.
The next day, another attack was carried out using a remote-controlled drone at Senjam Chirang, about three kilometres away, injuring three people. Meanwhile, the Manipur government said in a notification, “In view of the unrest and prevailing situation in the state and keeping in mind the safety of students and teachers, all government and private schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas will remain closed on September 7.”
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a group of civil society organisations in the valley, has declared a “public emergency” in five districts of the Imphal valley with immediate effect. “The government can no longer be trusted to protect people’s lives. The public will have to find ways to protect themselves,” COCOMI said. COCOMI also formed a human chain. During this, school and college students as well as women from various areas raised slogans condemning the recent attacks.