Tension grips Manipur after a bomb attack and firing left three dead, triggering curfew, protests, and heightened security across valley districts.
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IMPHAL — Tension gripped Manipur’s valley districts on Wednesday following a deadly bomb attack and subsequent violence that left at least three people dead, even as authorities enforced curfew and deployed additional security forces to prevent further escalation.
Normal life remained severely disrupted across the five valley districts, with markets shut, streets deserted, and civilian movement largely restricted.
Attendance in offices was minimal, while educational institutions and coaching centres remained closed for the second consecutive day.
The unrest was triggered by Tuesday’s bomb attack at Tronglaobi Makha Leikai in Bishnupur district, in which a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed. Their mother, Oinam Binita, who sustained splinter injuries, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
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Violence escalated later when protesters, angered by the killings, allegedly stormed a CRPF camp at Gelmol, prompting firing by security forces. Two persons were killed in the firing, while several others were injured.
The death toll rose to three on Wednesday after one of the injured succumbed to his injuries. As of Wednesday afternoon, seven injured persons, including a woman, were undergoing treatment at hospitals in Imphal.
Though no fresh major incidents were reported till the filing of this report, the situation remained tense.
Chief Minister
In a post on X, the chief minister said that measures were discussed “to ensure the restoration and maintenance of peace, stability, and public safety,” adding that the government remains committed to safeguarding lives and maintaining law and order.
Meanwhile, three members of the United Kuki National Army were arrested during a combing operation, and an AK-47 rifle and a pistol were recovered from their possession, according to BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesperson Kh. Ibomcha.
Civil society groups strongly condemned the incident. The Meitei Alliance and other organisations demanded justice, while the Keirak Apunba Meira Paibi staged a sit-in in Kakching district. Women Action for Development called for an impartial investigation into violence against children.
In Thoubal district, large groups of women staged a torch rally on Tuesday night, condemning the attack.