Imphal's Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Manipur was put on high alert after an unidentified flying object (UFO) was spotted in the vicinity, causing disruption to flight operations and necessitating intervention by the Air Force.
The sighting of the UFO resulted in a temporary halt to three flights at the airport. Flight schedules resumed approximately three hours after the UFO disappeared from the airport's vicinity. Airport Director Chipemmi Keishing stated that two flights had to be diverted due to the UFO sighting in Imphal's airspace, while three other flights experienced delays. Among the diverted flights was an IndiGo plane from Kolkata, redirected to land in Guwahati instead of Manipur.
According to an Air Traffic Control (ATC) official, they were alerted by the CISF around 2:30 pm regarding an object flying close to Imphal airport. The object remained visible to the naked eye as it moved westward towards the airfield until approximately 4 pm. Subsequently, the Air Force Command in Shillong assumed control of the airspace following the incident, pending security clearance.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic violence for the past six months, stemming from clashes during a protest march organized by tribal groups on May 4. The protest was in opposition to the dominant Metei community's demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. The clashes and gunfights between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zo tribal communities have resulted in approximately 200 casualties.
Due to a recent ambush on security forces that led to the death of a police official earlier in the month, the government extended the ban on internet services in Manipur until November 23. The Manipur Police chief expressed concerns that social media platforms might be exploited by "anti-social elements" to disseminate videos and incite hate speech, potentially worsening the law and order situation in the state.
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