Kukis using drone surveillance over Meiteis in strife-torn Manipur? STF recovers drone equipment from Guwahati, one arrested

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 14, 2024

A shocking story has come to light of how Kuki groups are using drones to know the position of Meiteis in riot-hit Manipur from the recovery of some drone equipment by a team of Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police here on Friday.

“Based on specific information, a team of STF intercepted a vehicle at Sonapur Toll Gate on NH 27 today morning. The intelligence input suggested that a Manipur-based banned organization was attempting to procure equipment potentially for sabotage activities,” STF IG Parthasarathi Mahanta said.

“The operation began with reliable input about the unauthorized transportation of drones and related equipment. The vehicle, bearing registration number AS01FU3927, was tracked from Sixmile and subsequently stopped,” Mahanta said.

During the search, the STF team apprehended one youth from Manipur, identified as Khaigoulen Kipgen (27), son of Hensat Kipgen from Gamngai village, Sapormeina Police Station in Kangpokpi district of Manipur. He was travelling with two minors.

The team recovered 10 TB30 Intelligent Flight Batteries suspected to be used in drones, cash amounting to Rs 3,40,000, 4 pairs of shoes and one mobile handset from the vehicle.

“The confiscation of these items, particularly the drone batteries, underscores the clandestine efforts by certain banned organizations in Manipur to procure drones for illicit activities. The STF is conducting necessary formalities and further investigations are underway,” Mahanta added.

In the last year, the security forces noticed that the warring groups- Meiteis, mostly concentrated in Imphal Valley and Kukis, mainly on the hillside have used quadcopters (small remote-controlled aircraft like a helicopters, with four blades that go around on top, used especially to film or photograph things from the air) to know each other’s position.

There is mistrust between the two communities which now rely on technology to monitor each other’s movement.