Manipur violence: Two children killed in blast, two more die in protest firing

Mangalore Today News Network

Guwahati, Apr 8, 2026: The valley districts of Manipur plunged back into unrest on Tuesday after two children of a BSF jawan were killed in their sleep in a bomb attack, sparking violent protests during which two more people were killed and five others injured in firing by security forces.

Police said the blast occurred around 1 am at Tronglaobi village in the Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district. The house of Mangalngamba Oinam, a BSF jawan posted in Bihar, was targeted in the attack, allegedly by Kuki militants. His five-year-old son and five-month-old daughter died on the spot, while his wife sustained serious injuries. However, Kuki organisations denied any role in the incident.

Local residents said a suspected projectile struck the house, triggering a powerful explosion that killed the children instantly and damaged the building, leaving the area in shock.

Bishnupur, which borders Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district, has been under tight security since ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis erupted in May 2023. The killings triggered widespread anger, with protesters attempting to storm the Moirang police station and torching vehicles at a nearby CRPF camp.

As the protests turned violent, CRPF personnel opened fire, injuring seven people. Two later died of their injuries, state Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh said.

Protesters alleged Kuki involvement and questioned the failure of security forces to protect civilians.

Authorities imposed curfew in parts of the region and suspended internet services for three days across five valley districts—Imphal East, Imphal West, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur. Additional forces were deployed to control the situation.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh ordered an NIA probe into the killings and appealed for calm. He also held meetings with legislators and security officials, directing intensified search operations to track down the attackers.

Meanwhile, Kuki civil society groups, including the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) and the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), rejected the allegations. The KZC stated that strict security in buffer zones makes such an infiltration highly unlikely.

The latest violence is seen as a setback to ongoing efforts by the state government to restore peace and rehabilitate those displaced by the ethnic conflict.