Why Manipur Police is turning to NSG to tackle drone bomb attacks

DGP Rajiv Singh visits violence-affected Imphal

In a first known instance of weaponized drones being used to drop bombs on civilians by insurgents in India, two people were killed and nine others injured in Manipur on Sunday. Hours after the attack, drone bombing destroyed three India Reserve Battalion bunkers in Meikhang village of Imphal East district on Monday.

The level of training militants have received to operate these locally-made drones is a growing concern for security forces. Security forces are now grappling with this unprecedented challenge, looking to the National Security Guard (NSG) for expertise in combating this aerial threat before it escalates further.

What destruction these weaponized drones are capable of causing:

- They can operate from distances of 500 meters to 15 kilometers.
- Can carry a range of explosives, including hand grenades and mortar bombs.
- These are rotor-fitted quadcopters, capable of hovering and capturing images, adding another layer of complexity to the conflict.

"This (drone attack) is a new thing. We are in touch with experts, including the National Security Guards (NSG). We have formed a multi-agency committee to make a plan on countering the drone threat. The experts are coming to Manipur," state DGP Rajiv Singh after visiting violence-affected areas at Kadangband and Koutruk in Imphal on Tuesday.

Search operations and area domination were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. During the search operations the following items were recovered:ii.01 (one) drone from Kharam vaiphei, Kangpokpi District. pic.twitter.com/5M9xqlkkdc
Manipur Police (@manipur_police) September 2, 2024

"We are conducting operations at the place where the attacks occurred... operations have been conducted yesterday and today and items have been seized. Further combing operations would be conducted," he said.

We need Central forces and that is why 198 companies of central forces are here, apart from the Assam Rifles. We will work together," he said.

As mobilisation of armed miscreants in many places have seen intense conflict in the past, CM N Biren Singh denounced all forms of violence and  condemned the drone bomb attacks on civilians as acts of terrorism.