Protests in Manipur against killing of two minors

The woman who lost her two kids in tragic April 7 Tronglaobi bomb attack expressed remorse for her reliance on security forces for protection even as she is recovering from critical injures.
“Had we not relied on the presence of the security forces for protection and we kept ourselves vigilant, my children might have been safe,” Oinam Binita cried.
It may be mentioned that suspected militants from the Kuki-dominated hill district of Churachandpur launched a bomb attack on a civilian house at Tronglaobi village under Moirang police station in the Bishnupur district on the wee hours on April 7 last, that killed two sleeping children of age five and five months while inflicting critical injuries on their mother.
Oinam Binita, the surviving mother recovering at Raj Medicity hospital in Imphal today recounted the ordeal of the day before the media in the presence of her husband who is a personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) posted in Bihar.
She said that the children were asleep with her in one bed when the bomb tore through the room.
“They (kids) knew nothing and slept peacefully in my arms,” she said, crying. Her five-month-old daughter (the younger child) was ailing and after medication, she was sound asleep. She expressed deep grief and anger over the incident, alleging inaction on the part of the government authorities.
“No visible action is taken on the part of the government so far,” she said, adding that even after a week the government was unable to arrest those who attacked and killed her two kids.
“But, I will not stand down until those who killed my children are punished,” she said, adding that “As a mother, I am enduring the grief and I would not like anybody in Manipur to face this grief.”
Asserting that her husband, a BSF personnel, was on duty at the time, Binita said the family had relied on the presence of security forces for protection.
She also questioned the credibility of the security forces while asking how the attackers managed to enter the area and carried out the attack despite the deployment of several security personnel.
She called for justice while asserting that those responsible remained at large even as concerns over civilian safety persisted in the conflict-affected region.
Oinam Binita is currently undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity with her husband on the side.
Meanwhile, protest rallies and sit-in demonstrations continued to be held on Sunday across the valley districts. Massive participation of people in the rallies reported as curfew imposed across the five valley districts was relaxed from 5 am till 3 pm for the day.
Demanding justice and accountability into the killing of the two sleeping kids, protests were being held across the valley district against the death of three protesters in firing by the CRPF hours after the tragic bomb attack. The three protesters were killed in firing by the CRPF personnel toward a group of protesters storming their camp at Gelmon village located adjacent to Tronglaobi village.
In one of the rallies at Uripok in Imphal West, a large number of people took to the streets, holding a massive rally and raising slogans against the killings.
Similar rallies were also carried out in Sangakpham Bazar and Khurai Lamlong in Imphal East amid the presence of a large number of security forces who were on alert and monitoring the situation.
In Thoubal district, a clash broke out between the protesters and police near the office of the district SP (Superintendent of Police last night, injuring at least two police personnel.
The police resorted to firing multiple rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Reports said that a large number of people from various localities carried out the protest rally, raising slogans including “We condemn the Tronglaobi killings” and “Kuki narco militants must be arrested.”
The rally also demanded the arrest and punishment of those involved in the Tronglaobi bombing and accountability for the subsequent death of three persons during aftermath protests. Meanwhile, temporary suspension of mobile internet and data services in five valley districts of the state has extended for another two days, that is, till 2 pm of April 14.
The internet services in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts have been suspended since the mass protests erupted after Tronglaobi bombing on April 7.
Following the violence protests, the state home department issued the order imposing a mobile internet shutdown under the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024.
While some wired broadband services were partially restored later under restrictions, mobile data connectivity continues to remain suspended.
The order of the state home department today said the situation is still sensitive and warned that the spread of rumours and misleading content through social media platforms could disturb public order.
The order warned that strict action will be taken against violations.
However, the indefinite curfew in the five districts will be relaxed for 12 hours on Monday (from 5am till 5pm), separate orders issued by the district administrations of the five districts stated.