The postmortem examination of late Ngangom Surbala, who was killed amid drone bombings carried out by Kuki terrorists at Koutruk Ching Leikai under Lamshang Police Station in Imphal West, was carried out at RIMS Mortuary on Thursday.
An executive magistrate was present during the postmortem and recorded a video of the procedure. A projectile, suspected to be from a sniper rifle, was found inside her head. Despite the completion of the postmortem, the family has yet to claim the body.
The relative calm in Manipur for the past four-five months was violently disrupted earlier on Sunday when Kuki terrorists attacked Koutruk Ching Leikai and Kadangband Part-1 by dropping bombs from drones, RPGs and firing, resulting in Surbala’s death and injuring 16 others including a child and a journalist.
The Kuki militants deployed drones carrying bombs and targeted Koutruk Ching Leikai. The bomb exploded on the ground at a CRPF post. Following the drone strike, the militants advanced toward Koutruk Ching Leikai and began attacking the village.
During the fierce attack, Surbala and her daughter who had come to Koutruk Ching Leikai to visit her family were struck by bullets. Surbala died at the spot, while the daughter sustained a shoulder injury. The sources further said that the two were kneeling on the ground when the bullets struck Surbala on the head.
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The bomb fired by the Kuki militants also exploded in the kitchen of an IRB bunker stationed at Koutruk Ching Leikai, resulting in significant property damage.
Following the attack on Koutruk Ching Leikai, the militants moved on to Kadangband Part-1, injuring several others. The drone strike also resulted in several houses catching fire at Koutruk Ching Leikai.
On the following day, two persons further sustained injuries as Kuki terrorists continued with drone strikes at Senjam Chirang in Imphal West dropping three bombs on the civilian population of the area.
One bomb struck the roof of Watham Gambhir ,65, at Senjam Chirang Maning Leikai; another fell on the alley beside his house while the third bomb exploded near a river bank.
Watham Gambhir’s daughter, Sanatombi, 23, was struck by a splinter on her stomach. She is being treated at Shija Hospital. Gambhir’s younger brother, Jotin ,56, also sustained minor injury on his shoulder by the blast. He was given first-aid at the dispensary of Senjam Chirang and discharged.
Koutruk village located at Imphal West had been continually attacked by Kuki militants since the beginning of the crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023.
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The latest attack using drones warfare, which is extensively being used by rebel forces in the Myanmar conflict, may strongly indicate that the Kuki militants are either getting technical support and training from Myanmar militants or they are directly involved in the Manipur crisis.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced that the government will take up necessary response to fight the drone strikes on villagers by Kuki terrorists, stating that the act of bombing on civilian population is an act of terrorism upon the indigenous people.
Earlier on Monday, an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) post at Meikan near Sinam, Imphal East district was attacked by Kuki militants with drones and firing of bombs from mortars. The Kuki militants decamped with three assault rifles including one AK, one INSAS and one INSAS LMG from the post.
Manipur Police along with central security forces had also seized a drone from Kharam Vaiphei, Kangpokpi district (a Kuki dominated area) along with arms, ammunition and explosives.
