Security forces along India's northeastern border have been put on high alert after reports surfaced that approximately 900 suspected militants from Myanmar have infiltrated into the volatile state of Manipur, according to a security official. Manipur has been plagued by intermittent clashes for over a year, primarily between the predominantly Hindu Meitei majority and the predominantly Christian Kuki community, resulting in the state being divided into ethnic enclaves.
The Kuki people, who inhabit the hilly regions, share cultural, familial, and religious connections with tribal populations in Myanmar. Myanmar has been the scene of numerous armed conflicts since the military took control in 2021. Kuldiep Singh, the Manipur government's security advisor, confirmed on Friday that authorities had received intelligence reports indicating a potential incursion by suspected militants.
According to the assessment, 'Nine hundred people are coming,' Singh informed reporters. He added that border checkpoints had been 'alerted' and security forces were preparing to conduct 'combing operations' in the remote, rugged terrain. Local media reports suggest that the intruders are Kuki militants trained in jungle warfare and equipped with weaponized drones. Singh emphasized that the use of drones without official permission is strictly prohibited.
After a period of relative calm, fresh hostilities broke out in Manipur this month, with insurgent groups employing rockets and drones to drop bombs, resulting in at least 11 fatalities. Last week, Meitei protesters marched through the state capital, Imphal, demanding that security forces take action against Kuki insurgents they hold responsible for the recent attacks. The long-standing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities are rooted in competition for land and public sector jobs.
The ongoing conflict has displaced around 60,000 people and claimed at least 200 lives, according to government statistics. Many of the displaced have been unable to return to their homes. Manipur is governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
