In a concerning development, Manipur’s Security Adviser, Kuldiep Singh, has confirmed the entry of 900 Kuki militants into the state from Myanmar, citing an intelligence report ¹. The report, sent to all Senior Superintendents of Police in districts along the India-Myanmar border, warns of potential coordinated attacks on Meitei villages in the last week of September.
Key Highlights:
- 900 Kuki Militants: Newly trained in drone-based bombs, projectiles, missiles, and jungle warfare, grouped in units of 30 members each.
- Security Alert: Manipur government takes the intelligence report seriously, believing it to be “100% correct” unless proven otherwise.
- India-Myanmar Border: Fencing work completed in 30 km of the porous border in Manipur, with plans to construct border fencing and roads along the 1,643-km international border.
- Ethnic Clashes: Ongoing tensions between Meitei and Kuki communities, with over 220 deaths and 50,000 internally displaced.
Background:
The Kuki militants are believed to have ties with ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s Chin State, which have been fighting the junta. The Manipur government has long maintained that ethnic violence in the state is linked to illegal immigration and other factors.
Government Response:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the completion of fencing work in 30 km of the India-Myanmar border in Manipur. The Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the construction of border fencing and roads along the international border at an estimated cost of ₹ 31,000 crore.
The situation remains tense, with potential for further violence. The involvement of overground insurgents from both communities has been confirmed, and the government’s response will be crucial in maintaining peace in the region.
