Insurgents in India's Manipur state have executed a lethal assault on security forces, utilizing drones to drop explosives in a move police described as a "significant escalation" of violence in the troubled northeastern region.
A 31-year-old woman was killed and six individuals were injured on Sunday in what police termed an "unprecedented attack" by rebels who employed drones to drop the heads of rocket-propelled grenades.
Clashes erupted in Manipur in May 2023 between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the mainly Christian Kuki community, an ethnic conflict that has claimed at least 200 lives. Rival militias have established blockades in parts of the state, which adjoins conflict-ridden Myanmar.
Persistent tensions between the two groups center on competition for land and public jobs, with rights activists accusing local leaders of intensifying ethnic divisions for political advantage.
"While drone bombs have been commonly used in general warfare, this recent deployment of drones to deploy explosives against security forces and civilians marks a significant escalation," Manipur police stated in a Sunday release.
The attack outside the state capital Imphal was conducted by "alleged Kuki" rebels, according to the statement. Among the injured were an eight-year-old girl, the daughter of the deceased woman, as well as three civilians and two police officers.
"The involvement of highly trained professionals, possibly with technical expertise and support, cannot be ruled out," the police added.
