Manipur Violence: Technology is proving to be both a boon and a curse in the violence-hit state of Manipur. On the one hand, the Army and Assam Rifles are using drones for relief and rescue work, while on the other hand, ethnic groups are using quadcopters (drones) to target each other. Officials said that it has come to the notice of the security agencies that the conflicting groups are using quadcopters to find out each other’s position. He told that people of Meitei community are mostly using this quadcopter in Imphal valley whereas people of Kuki community are using it in hilly areas.

Officials said that these quadcopters are being used on a large scale in Phougakchao, Kangvi Bazar and Torbung Bazar in South Western Manipur where villages of both the communities are situated side by side and the security forces have divided the two communities into one- A ‘buffer zone’ has been created to prevent them from fighting with each other. He said that despite the presence of security forces, Loibol in Senapati district and Leimaram in Vishnupur district continue to be hotbeds of violence.

Officials said the mistrust between the two communities has run so deep that they are using technology to keep tabs on each other. He told that these quadcopters are easily available in the market and day or night continuous firing is being done by the groups to bring down each other’s quadcopters.

) A quadcopter, often called a quadrotor, is an unmanned rotary-wing aircraft that can take off using four rotors. Each of these consists of a motor and propeller. Unlike conventional planes or helicopters, which rely on engines or tail rotors to fly, none of this happens in quadcopters. On the other hand, drones are being used for relief and rescue operations by the Army and the Assam Rifles who have destroyed nearly in Kakching district of South-East Manipur. Common citizens have been saved.

DroneManipur violencePublished Date

Sun, Jul 9, 2023, 5: 41 PM IST