A wave of grief and anger has gripped Manipur’s Bishnupur district following a “barbaric” night of violence that left two young children dead and led to a chaotic clash between a mob and security forces. State governments in five districts imposed curtailed internet services today, as tension took hold and the state government imposed traffic limitations.
The Midnight Horror: Two Innocent Lives Lost
The tragedy started in the early hours of today at 1:00 AM in Moirang Tronglaobi City. While a family was sleeping, suspected militants threw a bomb at their house at night.
The explosion took the lives of a five-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl, and their mother who was sleeping beside them suffered serious injuries and is fighting for her life at a local hospital. The cold-blooded killing of sleeping infants has drawn condemnation by many states and politicians from any side.
Protests turn violent at Gelmol CRPF Camp
As news of the children’s deaths spread, a huge crowd of local youths and women gathered to protest the lack of security. The mob quickly increased in size as the mob marched on the CRPF camp near Gelmol—just a few hundred meters away from the blast site.
But despite pleas from Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam to maintain peace and let the security forces search for militants, the protesters stormed the camp. The situation spiraled out of control as vehicles were set ablaze and camp property was vandalized.
BREAKING 🚨 🇮🇳 Violence has flared up again in Manipur.
— Shruti Dhore (@ShrutiDhore) April 7, 2026
Kuki militants fired a rocket in Moirang, killing two children.
Several vehicles were burned at a CRPF camp in Manipur. pic.twitter.com/Aq1Ku0MiaK
In the chaos, security personnel opened fire. Minister Konthoujam said: “They fired either in self-defence or in anger. Two persons died in the firing, while five others were wounded by bullets."
State response: Internet blackout and "Barbaric" condemnation. In an effort to curtail the spread of inflammatory rumors and prevent further mobilization of mobs, authorities have suspended mobile data and internet services in:
- Imphal West
- Imphal East
- Thoubal
- Kakching
- Bishnupur
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh said the bombing was an "outright assault on humanity" and promised that the culprits will be identified and brought to justice. Local MLA Th. Shanti Singh described it as an act of pure terrorism.
The Fragile Peace of 2026
This latest eruption of violence underscores the persistent volatility in Manipur. Though there have been periods of relative calm, the targeting of children and the subsequent clash with central security forces underscore our deep-seated distrust and a fragile security system.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and federal agencies are reportedly monitoring the regional fallout, as the state remains on high alert with additional paramilitary reinforcements being deployed to the sensitive “buffer zones” of Bishnupur.
