In a tragic incident today, an elderly man was killed in a rocket-propelled bomb attack in Moirang town, Manipur. The attack also injured five others, including a 13-year-old girl. The incident occurred in the lakeside town of Bishnupur district, approximately 35 kilometers from Imphal, the state capital.
The rocket struck the residence of Manipur’s first Chief Minister, Mairembam Koireng Singh, situated just 100 meters from the Indian National Army (INA) Museum. The museum, dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, is located in the heart of Moirang, near Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the northeast.
The elderly victim, a member of the Meitei community, was offering prayers when shrapnel from the rocket hit him, leading to his immediate death. Neighbors reported that the man was found with blood on the floor beside his prayer offerings. He was dressed in traditional white khudei (a dhoti-like cloth) and a white shawl.
Authorities believe the INA Museum might have been the intended target of the attack, with sources indicating that the rocket was fired from the direction of the hills. The attack marks a significant escalation in violence, coming just days after a drone attack by suspected Kuki insurgents injured another minor.
In response to the recent threats, the Manipur government has announced the closure of all schools tomorrow. This is the second rocket attack in the district today. Earlier, two rockets were fired from an elevated position in the neighboring Churachandpur district, which, while causing damage to two structures, did not result in any injuries.
The police reported that the rockets used in today’s attacks had a range of over 3 kilometers. Suspected insurgents also fired multiple rounds from the hills towards Bishnupur, prompting a retaliatory response from security forces.
The region has been under heightened tension following a series of attacks, including a drone bomb incident in Manipur’s Senjam Chirang on Monday, which resulted in additional casualties. On Sunday, drone and firing attacks by suspected Kuki insurgents resulted in two deaths and nine injuries, including a 12-year-old girl.
Sources By Agencies
