4 Killed, Several Injured: Why Violence Is Flaring Again In Manipur | Explained

Manipur govt has ordered a suspension of internet and mobile data services—including broadband, VSATs, and VPNs—in five valley districts for three days.

People block a road in protest after two children were killed and their mother was injured in a bomb attack, in Bishnupur district, Manipur. (PTI photo)

Fresh violence erupted once again in Manipur after suspected Kuki-Zo militants launched a bomb attack on a civilian house, killing two children in Moirang Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district.

The attack occurred around 1 am on Tuesday when a bomb was hurled at the house while the family was sleeping. A five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed, while their mother sustained injuries, a senior police officer said.

The attack triggered immediate unrest in the area, with locals staging protests and expressing anger at the continuing cycle of violence.

Manipur has been plagued by ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023, leaving more than 260 people dead and thousands homeless.

2 Killed In Protests

The killing of the children sparked further violence as protesters clashed with security forces. Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said that two persons were killed and five others injured after a mob stormed a CRPF camp in Bishnupur district.

A large group of youths and women marched in protest against the bomb attack, reaching the CRPF camp near Gelmol, just a few hundred metres from the site of the explosion. Vehicles were burnt, and parts of the camp were vandalised.

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“I had urged the protesters not to enter the CRPF camp and to allow security forces to focus on conducting an operation to apprehend those involved in the bomb attack,” the minister said. However, demonstrators ignored the appeal, leading to firing by security personnel, who acted either in self-defence or under duress, he added.

Internet Suspended

In response to the escalating unrest, the Manipur government ordered a suspension of internet and mobile data services—including broadband, VSATs, and VPNs—in five valley districts for three days.

The order, signed by Commissioner Home N Ashok Kumar, applies to Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts.

A Home Department statement said the measure aimed to prevent the spread of disinformation and false rumours amid the law and order situation.

High-Level Meeting

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the situation and deliberate on steps to de-escalate tensions. In a post on X, he said the government remained committed to restoring peace and stability at the earliest.

“While peace and normalcy have been disturbed, we remain firmly committed to restoring stability at the earliest. The government is actively exploring all viable options and taking decisive steps to bring back peace, ensure public safety, and uphold law and order across the state,” Singh said.

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Bomb Attack Case Given To NIA

The state government announced that the case of the Tronglaobi bomb attack would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further investigation.

Chief Minister Singh said the perpetrators have not yet been identified and a massive combing operation is underway with state police, Assam Rifles, CRPF, and helicopters deployed.

The decision to involve the NIA came after consultations with the Home Minister and other MLAs, a government press release said, with assurances that the culprits would be caught at the earliest.

Reactions

Manipur Chief Minister condemned the attack as a “barbaric act” and assured the public that those responsible would be brought to justice. Locals staged protests on Tuesday morning, setting fire to two oil tankers and a truck near a petrol pump, burning tyres in front of Moirang police station, and destroying a makeshift police outpost.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also reacted strongly, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take concrete and immediate action in Manipur. “Prime Minister ji, Manipur is not just a state; it is a responsibility. Giving a mere statement for the sake of it is not enough; a mere showy visit is not enough,” he said in a post on X.

“You’ll have to take concrete and immediate steps before the situation spirals completely out of control,” the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha added.

Gandhi also called the deaths of the two children as “heart-wrenching” and criticised the government for appearing “desensitised and stone-hearted,” adding that innocent children continue to die in the state even three years after the outbreak of ethnic violence.

(With inputs from agencies)

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