900 Suspected Myanmar Militants Enter India Crossing Border

900 suspected militants enter India

Security forces on India's northeastern border are on heightened alert after reports emerged that 900 suspected militants had crossed into the restive state of Manipur from war-torn Myanmar. AFP reported citing Indian security officials. 

For more than a year, Manipur has been plagued by periodic clashes between the majority Hindu Meitei and the minority Christian Kuki, dividing the state into ethnic enclaves. 

The hill tribes have cultural, family and religious ties to tribes in Myanmar, where dozens of militant groups have been fighting the military since it took power in 2021. 

Kuldiep Singh, security adviser to the Manipur government, acknowledged on Friday that authorities had received reports from local intelligence about a possible crossing by suspected militants.

Singh said the border guards had been "alerted" and security forces would conduct "search operations" in the remote and rugged area. 

Local media reports said the intruders were Kuki militiamen trained in jungle warfare and carrying armed drones.

Singh said flying drones is prohibited without official permission. After months of relative calm, fighting erupted again in Manipur this month with rebels firing rockets and dropping bombs from drones that killed At least 11 people.

Last week, protesters from Meitei  marched through the state capital, Imphal, demanding security forces take action against Kuki rebels who they say are responsible for recent attacks.

Long-simmering tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities revolve around disputes over land and public jobs. 

A bloody fighting erupted in May, 2023 that since then has displaced about 60,000 people and killed at least 200, according to the government. 

Many have still been unable to return home. Manipur is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.