2 children killed in bomb attack; 3 protesters shot dead
At least five persons, including two minors, were killed in fresh violence in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Tuesday, after a bomb attack triggered protests that later turned violent, prompting Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to open fire on a mob.
According to officials, the violence began early in the day when suspected militants hurled a bomb at a house in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai area around 1 a.m. The blast killed a five-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl, while their mother sustained injuries and was admitted to hospital.
The incident sparked widespread protests in the area, with demonstrators blocking the Imphal-Tidim Road and setting several trucks ablaze.
As tensions escalated, a mob stormed a CRPF camp near Gelmol, a few hundred metres from the blast site, allegedly attempted to snatch weapons, torched vehicles and vandalised property. In response, CRPF personnel opened fire, killing three protesters and injuring several others.
In the wake of the violence, the Manipur government imposed an indefinite curfew across five valley districts. District magistrates issued prohibitory orders restricting movement of people outside their residences with immediate effect from April 7 until further notice, exempting government agencies engaged in law and order, essential and emergency services.
The state government also suspended internet and mobile data services, including broadband, VSATs and VPN, for three days in the five valley districts to contain the situation. Meanwhile, the government decided to hand over the investigation into the bomb blast to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Condemning the attack, chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said the act appeared to be the handiwork of individuals or groups with vested interests in disturbing the prevailing peace in the state.
He said the decision to transfer the case to the NIA was taken after discussions with the state home minister and other MLAs.
The chief minister informed that a massive search operation was underway, involving combined forces of the state police, Assam Rifles and CRPF, supported by helicopter surveillance.
“The culprits will be caught at the earliest,” he assured, while appealing to the public not to give in to emotions and to cooperate with security forces.
Officials said the situation remained tense as security forces intensified operations to restore normalcy in the affected areas.