IMPHAL, Feb 24: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that the suppliers behind the drone-dropped bombs used in the September 2024 attack in Manipur were based in Delhi and Haryana. The attack, which marked the first-ever use of drones for bombing in Manipur, took place on September 1, 2024, in the Koutruk and Kadangband areas of Imphal West, where more than 40 bombs were dropped by suspected Kuki militants.
The NIA’s investigation has traced the purchase of the drones and their accessories, including batteries, to Khaigoulen Kipgen, a local man from Gamngai village, who acquired them from Mayank Sharma, a Delhi-based supplier, and Vikram Chaudhary from Rohtak, Haryana. Kipgen paid substantial amounts for the drones through both cash and online payments. The NIA’s investigation, which took over the case on September 20, also revealed that another individual, Laikangbam Albert Singh, had similarly purchased drones and batteries from Sharma and Chaudhary.
The attack, which resulted in the tragic death of 31-year-old Ngangbam Surbala Devi and left her six-year-old daughter injured, saw bombs dropped from drones over several hours. Local witnesses described the horrifying scene as “it rained bombs” from the hills. The NIA’s probe continues to shed light on the new use of drones in violence, raising concerns over the escalating nature of the insurgent activities in the region.
