Since April 7, Manipur has witnessed five killings, including that of two children, but there have been no arrests in any of the cases so far. The Bishnupur-Churachandpur road has remained blocked for the past 12 days, hindering the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) investigation into the April 7 killing of two children at Tronglaobi, Bishnupur, a senior government official said.
As the attackers remain unidentified, locals have hit the streets multiple times in the past one week and have clashed with security forces demanding arrest of the attackers, leaving scores of people injured.
The siblings, whose father is a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan, were sleeping when a “bomb” allegedly launched from a distance of 100-150 metres exploded in their house. Another government official said probe agencies were yet to receive any CCTV footage from the area that could help them identify the attackers, as an unexploded device — a galvanised iron pipe with a factory-made rocket tip and wires dangling from its sides — was also recovered near the house.
Meitei civil society groups have accused Kuki-Zo insurgent groups in Churachandpur of being behind the attack and have also demanded the withdrawal of Central security forces.
“No civil supplies are coming to Pherzawl and Churachandpur from Imphal side as the roads remain blocked. The essentials are being routed from Silchar in Assam and Aizawl in Mizoram. If the Kui-Zo groups are involved, due to the blockade, the NIA team has not been able to visit Churachandpur for invsetigation,” the first government official said.
On April 10, a BSF jawan was killed in “unprovoked firing by militants” in Litan area of Ukhrul district. The Naga-dominated Litan area of Ukhrul has witnessed a wave of violence and arson between Nagas and Kukis since February 7, three days after Yumnam Khemchand Singh was installed as the new Chief Minister of the ethnic-violence affected State that remained under President’s Rule for a year.
On Saturday (April 18), suspected militants ambushed the vehicles of civilians on National Highway no. 202 in Ukhrul, killing two Tangkhul Naga men, including a retired soldier.
A government source said that preliminary probe into Saturday’s killings had indicated the use of an automatic weapon, most likely an AK series rifle, which is used by hardened militant groups active in the region.
Also on April 7, three others were killed when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel opened fire at a mob that tried to loot the armoury at Gelmol, 1.5 km away from Tronglaobi. Gelmol has been a buffer zone between Meitei-dominated Bishnupur and Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur since 2023.
According to Losii Dikho, Manipur’s Deputy Chief Minister, the outreach by Mr. Singh is being appreciated by all communities and the recent incidents could be an attempt to instigate unrest in the State.
“There is speculation that the violence is being instigated. The Chief Minister visited Senapati district, a Naga-dominated area. To reach there, he crossed Kangpokpi, a Kuki-Zo area, probably one of the first from the Meitei commuity to do so. A day ago, he visited Ukhrul to meet members of Naga community and also stopped at a Kuki village. He may soon visit Churachandpur, I have been there thrice,” Mr. Dikho told The Hindu.
Manipur is inhabited by three communities — Meitei, Naga and the Kuki-Zo.
More than 250 people have been killed since ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo people first erupted in the State, on May 3,2023.
More than 6,000 police weapons were looted after violence erupted, with 4,500 weapons recovered so far. Besides, 3,000 other weapons were also recovered from civilians. Most recoveries were made when the State was under the President’s Rule from February 13, 2025 to February 3, 2026.
