GUWAHATI: At least two people were killed and 26 others injured after security forces opened fire on protesters in Manipur on Tuesday, April 7, prompting Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh to order a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the incident in which two toddlers were killed in a blast earlier.
The violence was reported to have been triggered by public outrage over the death of the two children in a late-night mortar attack in Moirang. The situation escalated rapidly, leading to widespread protests across parts of the state.
During a press conference held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Singh stated that the investigation had been handed over to the central agency in view of the gravity of the incident. The meeting was convened after reports emerged that a mob had allegedly entered a camp of central forces and caused extensive damage.
According to officials, several vehicles parked within the camp premises were set on fire during the unrest. The Chief Minister described the earlier mortar attack as inhuman and condemned the violence, adding that large-scale combing operations had been initiated in sensitive areas. He indicated that security forces had been instructed to intensify their operations and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
State Home Minister K. Govindas reportedly stated that a group of protesters had stormed a CRPF camp at Tronglaobi, vandalised property, and set vehicles ablaze. Security personnel subsequently opened fire in an attempt to disperse the crowd, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
The unrest was said to have spread across several valley districts, with large groups taking to the streets. Road blockades were reported in multiple locations, significantly affecting normal movement. In Bishnupur district, including areas such as Kha Potsangbam and stretches along the Imphal–Moirang road, protesters—many of them women—were reported to have blocked the movement of security forces.
Authorities indicated that daily life had been severely disrupted, with shops, markets, and educational institutions remaining closed across the Imphal valley. Amid concerns over further escalation, mobile internet and data services were suspended for three days in five districts—Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur.
Security deployment was intensified across the affected regions, with officials noting that the situation remained tense and volatile.