Crude heavy rockets with explosive warheads and fins dig craters in Manipur; security forces on alert

Crude and heavy rockets, weighing upto 24 kilograms, laden with 8-10 kg explosives in its warhead, and stabilised with four fins for aerodynamic stability, are suspected to have been used to attack civilian areas in Manipur, sending alarm bells ringing as the conflict began to spread in the southern axis of the strife-torn state that witnessed moments of peace in the last few months. While drone sightings have been reported from the eastern districts of Manipur, the new trend of rocket attacks is creating a fear psychosis as police and central agencies find themselves ill-equipped to counter the aerial threat immediately.

As many as four rockets—two big and two small—have been fired from hilltops into Bishnupur-Churachandpur border since Friday morning, security sources said. The first blast took place on Friday morning when a rocket fell on a building but did not result in loss of life as the building was empty. By afternoon, another rocket caused a massive explosion in the same area resulting in the death of one civilian due to splinter injuries in Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district. By evening, two more rockets were fired. By then, the central armed police forces and the Army was alerted to possible escalation in unrest by mobs of protestors, if the aerial threats continued, security officials said.

Rocket attacks in civilian areas are unprecedented in the country and Manipur has not witnessed this trend since the ethic clashes began on May 3 last year. Forensic teams have fanned out to collect evidence and analyse the explosive material, rocket propellents, pipes, and other materials used to make the crude rockets.

Sources said locally procured material may have been used to make the rockets, but the capability to create these explosive-laden weapons is difficult to develop locally. Initial forensic analysis shows that almost eight feet long galvanised iron pipes, with six-inch diameters, were used to develop the rockets which had two compartments. The four fins to stabilise it were fitted perfectly to allow the projectile to travel 4-5 kilometers.

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The explosives fitted in the warhead of the projectile appeared to be a mix of nitrogenous fertiliser material as propellant, but further investigation is underway to see what other explosives were used to carry out the blasts. The rockets that were fired created deep craters and the impact of the explosion is worrisome as it appears to have a military training imprint.

The security agencies are brainstorming on how to respond to the crude rocket attacks, as none of the counter-insurgency theatres in the country have witnessed similar attacks. The Maoists used some indigenously made rocket-propelled grenades during heightened days of left-wing extremism but there is no parallel to crude rockets being fired on houses and civilians.

The only other time, top security experts said, that crude rockets were seen is in the conflicts in far-off West Asia.

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Back home, security sources said insurgents in the northeast do not seem to have the capacity to develop such rockets. It remains a matter of investigation whether they have borrowed a leaf out of other conflicts virtually or training modules have been supplied to them from inimical forces to create unrest in the state.

While security officials warn against any rumours being spread till the investigation is complete, they admit that the sudden spurt in violence and use of new kinds of weaponry is worrisome and requires a deeper probe to put an end to the rocket attacks on the people of Manipur.