Imphal, April 7 Two children were killed and their mother was injured in a bomb attack in the Bishnupur district of Manipur on Tuesday, triggering protests by locals, police said.
The incident occurred around 1 am when a bomb was thrown by suspected militants at a house in the Moirang Tronglaobi area, killing a 5-year-old boy and a 6-month-old girl, a senior officer said.
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh described the attack as a "barbaric act" and assured the people that those responsible for the crime would be identified and dealt with firmly under the law.
The two children and their mother were sleeping in their bedroom when the bomb exploded in the house, the police officer said.
Locals staged a protest this morning and set fire to two oil tankers and a truck near a petrol pump in the area. They also burned tires in front of the Moirang Police Station and destroyed a makeshift police outpost.
Security forces have been deployed in the area to control the situation, the officer said.
People also burned tires in different parts of Imphal to protest the killing of the two minors.
They stopped the movement of vehicles at Pangei and Khurai in Imphal East district and Langthabal in Imphal West, and burned tires in the middle of the roads.
The chief minister said the attack was a "barbaric act" and "a direct assault on humanity and a direct attempt to derail the hard-earned peace in Manipur".
"I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Let there be no doubt, those responsible will be identified, hunted down, and dealt with firmly under the law. Such acts of terror will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he said.
The CM visited a private hospital in Imphal, where the injured mother of the two deceased was being treated.
"This morning, I rushed to Raj Polyclinic to assess the condition of the injured mother who lost her two children in last night's brutal attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, Moirang. I have directed that she be provided the highest standard of medical care and all necessary support," he said.
The CM asserted that the state government stands resolute in protecting every citizen and will take all necessary measures to ensure that peace, order, and stability are not compromised.
He also urged the people to remain united and resolute against those who seek to disturb the collective harmony.
Low-lying Moirang Tronglaobi is located close to hill areas of Churachandpur and witnessed consistent gun firing during the ethnic conflict between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in 2023 and 2024.
An explosive device was also recovered in a nearby area of Tronglaobi on Tuesday, another senior officer said.
Local NPP MLA Th. Shanti Singh condemned the "brutal attack at Tronglaobi, allegedly carried out by Kuki narco-terrorists".
"This heinous act is nothing less than an act of terrorism. Such inhuman acts have no place in our society and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms," he said.
"I offer my heartfelt tributes to the innocent lives lost - a 5-year-old boy and a 5-month-old baby girl - taken away in such a cold-blooded manner. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved family during this unimaginable time of grief," the MLA said.
More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023.