Violence Returns to Manipur: Four Meitei Killed in Bishnupur District
In a tragic resurgence of violence, four individuals from the Meitei community, including two minors, lost their lives in Bishnupur district on Tuesday morning. This incident has shattered a brief period of calm in Manipur, prompting authorities to take immediate action by shutting down internet services and imposing a curfew in the restive region.
Deadly Bomb Blast Claims Lives of Young Siblings
At approximately 1:10 am, a devastating bomb explosion ripped through a bedroom in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, resulting in the deaths of a five-year-old boy, Oinam Tomthin, and his five-month-old sister, Oinam Yaisana. Their mother, Pheiroijam Binita, a nurse employed at a private hospital in Guwahati, sustained critical injuries and is currently fighting for her life in an Imphal hospital. Binita had returned to their Bishnupur home with her children to attend a religious function.
Police investigations revealed that the bomb was hurled into the house, with the impact tragically occurring in the bedroom. Security personnel later recovered one unexploded RPG and one IED from the vicinity of the house, indicating the severity of the attack.
Protests Erupt and Security Forces Respond
As news of the blast spread at dawn, a large crowd of men and women gathered in the Tronglaobi area. The situation escalated when protesters stormed a CRPF camp near Gelmol, located just a few hundred meters from the attack site. Roadblocks were set up by angry demonstrators across several parts of Manipur's valley, leading to widespread unrest.
In an effort to quell the rampage, CRPF personnel opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to five others. This further inflamed tensions in the already volatile region.
Government Measures to Restore Order
In response to the escalating violence, the state government ordered the suspension of internet and mobile data services for five days in five valley districts: Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. Simultaneously, a curfew was clamped in Bishnupur district as authorities moved swiftly to restore law and order.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced that the Tronglaobi bomb blast case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In a statement, the government described the attack as the handiwork of elements with vested interests aimed at disturbing peace in the state.
Ethnic Tensions and Community Blame
Although the blast occurred in Meitei-inhabited territory within Manipur's valley belt, Meitei organizations were quick to blame the Kuki community for the attack. In a retaliatory act, miscreants set fire to three oil tankers at the Moirang Oil Pump Station, which were carrying supplies to Churachandpur.
The Kuki Zo Council immediately denied any involvement, emphasizing that with buffer zones strictly guarded by security forces between the lands of the two communities, it was highly implausible for any Kuki Zo individual to infiltrate and carry out such an attack deep within Meitei localities. The council condemned the tragic incident and urged all parties to exercise restraint.
Ongoing Conflict and Security Operations
Manipur has remained on edge since the onset of the Kuki-Meitei conflict on May 3, 2023, which has claimed over 260 lives and displaced approximately 60,000 people. In recent times, ethnic conflict has also erupted between the Kuki and Naga communities, adding to the region's instability.
A massive combing operation is currently underway, involving combined forces of the state police, Assam Rifles, and CRPF, supported by helicopters. Chief Minister Singh chaired a high-level security review meeting with representatives from the Army, Assam Rifles, State Police, and CRPF, issuing instructions to intensify operations and take swift action against perpetrators.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh labeled those responsible as "peace disruptors" and stated that the Chief Minister has directed security officers to capture them "dead or alive." He added that state commandos have been redeployed in hill areas after a long gap, equipped with bulletproof vehicles to strengthen operations.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Singh visited the injured mother in the hospital, condemning the attack and stressing that "restoring peace and normalcy remains the government's top priority." The government continues to work towards stabilizing the region amidst these challenging circumstances.
