'Terrorist Acts, Foreign Hand Likely Involved,' Says Bhagat Oinam On Manipur Violence | Exclusive

Manipur Drone Attack: After incidents of fresh violence in Manipur involving drone bomb attacks, Professor Bhagat Oinam from the Special Center for the Study of North East India, JNU, has termed them as “terrorist acts” that are aimed at the civilian population.

At least two were reportedly injured in another drone bomb attack in Manipur's Senjam Chirang on Monday. The fresh attack comes a day after Kuki militants used weaponised drones to launch an attack in Manipur's Imphal West district on Sunday. The gun-and-bomb attack by the suspected militants killed two persons and injured nine others, police said.

Speaking to Republic TV’s Editor-In-Chief Arnab Goswami on Manipur situation, Oinam said that infiltrators from neighboring countries are targeting poor villagers to destabilise India and defame its global strength. This shift from targeting security forces to attacking vulnerable civilians indicates a deliberate strategy to instil fear and undermine regional stability.

Concerns Over Sophisticated Arms and Foreign Infiltration

Professor Oinam points out the sophistication of the weapons used in these attacks, noting that they surpass the standard arms used by local security forces. He said, “This is much more clearly coming up. We have to link events that have happened in the last one year... just look at how Sheikh Hasina claimed that American diplomats have tried to enter into their interests in Bangladesh. Even the guns that had been used in the last one-and-a-half-year... rifles that are far more sophisticated are not even used by the local security forces. Where did these arms come? I think there are different layers of game plans happening.” 

Further speaking over the incidents of fresh violence in Manipur, professor Oinam said, “…perhaps there is an interest in building up a country or a Christian state… And this is something we have to take seriously. Looking into this Violence, which I would call as a terrorist act because you are creating terror, fear in the people come and man. It is not striking around biting a goal or the state forces. It is targeting the poor villagers who have nothing to defend for themselves.”

Call for Enhanced Security Measures

Oinam calls for a strengthened security apparatus to address the infiltration and prevent further attacks. He warns that the attacks, particularly those targeting vulnerable communities, are designed to tarnish India’s reputation as a global leader. 

He said that, all of these activities are done by infiltrators to defame India’s strength as a world leader country, he said, “So very clearly, this is a terror act to defame India's strength as a world leader… there is a possibility of a foreign hand not on the basis of the kind of bombs and guns that have been used but also the way the people from Myanmar has been infiltrating in this part of the country.”