IMPHAL: Manipur’s fragile calm has been shaken again after the killing of two children in a bombing triggered protests and fresh violence across the valley, raising questions about the state’s ongoing reconciliation efforts under its new leadership.
On April 16, hundreds of Meitei women marched through Imphal West carrying flaming torches. The rally, organised by the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation and allied groups, was held under the Meira Paibi movement. Protesters raised slogans such as “Go back Central Force” and “Long live Manipur.” The protest came in response to the April 7 bombing in Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district, where a rocket-like projectile hit a civilian house at around 1 am. The attack killed a four-year-old boy and his newborn sister and left their mother critically injured.
Security forces stopped the march at Singjamei. Tear gas was used after clashes broke out, and several protesters were injured. By April 17 night, unrest had spread across the valley, with violent clashes and armoured vehicles circulating widely on social media. Eleven days after the attack, tensions remain high.
The incident quickly led to blame and counter-claims. Meitei residents accused Kuki-Zo groups from nearby hill areas, claiming the projectile was fired from about three kilometres away. Kuki-Zo organisations denied any role in the attack. Anger escalated soon after the incident. Around 800 protesters stormed a CRPF camp at Gelmol along the Bishnupur-Churachandpur border and set vehicles on fire. Police opened fire during the confrontation. Two protesters were killed on the spot, 31 others were injured, and another protester later died in hospital. The total death toll rose to four. Chief Minister Yumman Khechand Singh, who took office in February 2026 after a year of President’s Rule, held an emergency high-level meeting the same day. The government suspended mobile internet, broadband, and VPN services across five valley districts for three days, which was later extended. Curfews were also imposed in sensitive areas.
The National Investigation Agency has taken over the case. Raids carried out in Churachandpur led to the arrest of three UKNA militants. Security forces also recovered arms and 21 kg of raw opium.
Chief Minister Khechand Singh has responded cautiously. He met members of a Joint Action Committee formed by protesters and expressed “profound grief” over the killings. He assured strict action.
However, the JAC has not been satisfied with the response. It has demanded a military crackdown on suspected militants in hill areas, redeployment of central forces from the valley, a judicial inquiry into the security response, and compensation. The group has also blocked Tiddim Road and refused to claim the bodies of the children until its demands are met. The Chief Minister’s recent visit to Ukhrul has received mixed reactions. While some see it as an attempt to build trust, others view it as damage control.
The latest violence has once again brought attention to Manipur’s deep-rooted ethnic tensions. The 2023 ethnic conflict in the state had left more than 258 people dead and displaced around 60,000. The violence was triggered by Meitei demands for Scheduled Tribe status, forest eviction drives under former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, and the withdrawal of Suspension of Operations agreements with Kuki groups.
Since then, Meitei-dominated valley areas and Kuki-Zo dominated hill regions have remained largely divided. Weapons looted during the earlier violence have not been fully recovered. President’s Rule in 2025 led to the deployment of central forces and limited disarmament, but key issues remain unresolved. These include land rights under the 1960 Act, demographic concerns, poppy cultivation, and ongoing insurgency-related activities. The current political situation is being closely watched. The previous BJP government under Biren Singh faced criticism from Kuki groups, who accused it of bias. The present coalition government, which includes Kuki and Naga representatives, is attempting to maintain balance. However, the latest unrest shows the challenges remain.
