Bomb attack killing two children in Manipur sparks statewide anger. Fresh protests draw Meitei, Kuki Zo and Naga communities into unrest as shutdown cripples valley districts.
Fresh protests and unrest have once again shaken Manipur. Demonstrations continued in Imphal’s Keishamthong area on Monday night over the Tronglaobi incident.
The protests were triggered by a bomb attack on April 7 in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Moirang. Suspected militants hurled an explosive at a house, killing two children and injuring their mother. The incident has sparked anger and grief across the state.
Conflict spreads across Manipuri communities
For nearly three years, the crisis in Manipur was largely seen as a two-sided conflict between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo tribes. That situation has now changed.
Over the past two weeks, all three major communities – Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga – have been drawn into fresh violence, protests and clashes with security forces. This shift has made the situation more unstable and difficult to control.
Since May 2023, the conflict mainly involved Meiteis in the Imphal Valley and Kuki-Zo groups in the surrounding hills. Naga communities, mostly based in northern districts, had stayed largely neutral. That balance has now broken down, with separate but connected incidents involving all three groups.
Shutdown brings life to halt
A five-day total shutdown has brought normal life to a standstill in the valley districts. The bandh began on April 19 and is being led by the Meira Paibis, along with several civil society organisations and a people’s collective formed after the blast.
Markets, schools, government offices and transport services remained mostly closed on the first day. Only essential services were operating in some areas. Protesters have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for the attack and quick justice for the victims.
Valley districts of Manipur including captial Imphal paralysed owing to a five days complete shut down. A 5-day total shutdown began in Manipur on April 19, shutting down valley districts. Organized by civil society groups, including Meira Paibis, the protest stems from a blast in Bishnupur, causing massive disruption to daily life.
Manipur govt issues strict attendance orders amid shutdown
The Manipur government has issued strict instructions directing employees to attend offices, warning of firm action against those who remain absent. The order comes as the state faces a continuing shutdown across key areas. Today marks the third day of a five-day complete shutdown in five valley districts of Manipur. The protest has been called to demand justice and swift action in connection with recent incidents, drawing widespread participation from civil society groups.
The impact has been visible across sectors. Most educational institutions and government offices have remained virtually shut due to very low attendance. Daily functioning has been disrupted, with only limited essential services operating in some areas. Officials have now made it clear that absence from duty will not be tolerated.
Police warning over protests
Police have warned that anti-social elements are trying to take advantage of the demonstrations. Authorities said some groups are attempting to hijack the protests, raising concerns about further unrest.
Security has been tightened in sensitive areas, and officials are closely monitoring the situation to prevent escalation.
