In the past three months, since May 2023, an escalation has taken place in Manipur between the Kuki and Meitei communities, against the background of the claim for more rights and territories by the two communities. During this period, the production of various kinds of firing platforms of different diameters has increased. Most of the documentation was of improvised firing platforms used by the Kukis against the Meiteis. The majority of these firing platforms were improvised sniper and submachine guns, along with large cannon-like weapons of various diameters. In addition, amid the continuing violence in Manipur, a suspected VBIED attack took place on top of a culvert in Kwakta, in Manipur’s Bishnupur District. According to some reports, this explosion may be related to the current conflict in Manipur, but this is not certain. Although no group has claimed responsibility for it, VBIED attacks are extremely unusual in Manipur.
In accordance with the Indian government’s limited intervention in the violent events in Manipur, as well as the significant improvement in a short time of the production of improvised firing platforms used by the Kuki communities in the state, it is possible the escalation will worsen, and we will see more varied types of improvised weapons used by both sides in this conflict.
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