Imphal/IBNS: An elderly man from the Meitei community was killed in a rocket-propelled bomb attack by suspected Kuki insurgents in Manipurs Moirang town Friday while he was offering prayers amid fresh tension in the state, media reports said.
Five others including a 13-year-old girl were injured in the attack on the lakeside town in Bishnupur district, 35 km from the state capital Imphal.
The girl is the second minor to receive injuries in attacks in the last five days. The first minor victim was from a drone attack by suspected Kuki insurgents on Sunday, the police and the home department had said.
Fridays rocket struck the house of Manipurs first Chief Minister Mairembam Koireng Singh, just 100 metres away from the Indian National Army (INA) Museum in Moirang town, which is dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Moirang town is where the INA flag was first unfurled on April 14, 1944, on Indian territory and Mairembam Koireng Singh was a freedom fighter and part of the INA. He went to jail after World War II and later became Chief Minister of Manipur.
According to reports, the INA Museum was likely the target of the rocket attack. Locals said the rocket came from the direction of the hills.
The elderly man from the Meitei community was offering prayers when shrapnel from the rocket hit his head, neighbours told the media. He died on the spot.
The Manipur government has announced a shutdown of all schools on Saturday in the wake of the rocket and drone attacks.
This was the second rocket attack on Friday in the same district after two rockets were fired this morning from nearby hills. Churachandpur district, dominated by the Kuki tribes, the police said.
However, no injuries were reported from the morning attack, though two structures were damaged, the police said.
The range of the rockets that hit the valley area this morning was estimated to be over 3 km, the police said.
On Thursday night, residents in Kumbi village near Tronglaobi reported seeing multiple drones. Two people were killed and nine including a 12-year-old girl were injured in firing and drone attacks by suspected Kuki insurgents on Sunday.
The injured girl was the daughter of one of the two who was shot in the head. Another three were injured in a drone bomb attack in Manipurs Senjam Chirang on Monday.
The police said suspected insurgents also fired several rounds from the hills towards Bishnupur district, prompting security forces to retaliate.
