Imphal, April 8 – The situation remained tense but calm in five valley districts of Manipur on Wednesday, with curfews, internet suspensions, and heavy police deployment in place, following violence that erupted over a bomb attack that left two children dead in Bishnupur a day earlier, a senior official said.
No further violence was reported this morning, but clashes between security forces and protesters broke out late on Tuesday in some areas of Imphal East and West districts, prompting police personnel to fire tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators, he said.
They also set tyres on fire in Khurai Lamlong and Wangkhei in Imphal East district, and at Uripok and Kwakeithel in Imphal West, demanding action against those involved in the killing of the two children.
"The situation has been brought under control following the overnight clashes. No further violence has been reported this morning. The overall situation remains calm," the official said.
Curfews and internet suspensions have been in effect in Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching districts, he said.
Violence broke out in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Tuesday when two children were killed in a bomb attack on their home, while two others were shot dead when a mob stormed a CRPF camp during a protest against the blast, the police said.
A group of people also set fire to two oil tankers and a truck, vandalised a police outpost, and stopped the movement of vehicles on key roads to protest the bomb attack.
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh chaired an all-party meeting to review the prevailing situation in the state.
It all started with suspected militants hurling a bomb at a house in Moirang Tronglaobi, killing a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister, and injuring their mother, when all of them were sleeping early on Tuesday, the police said.
Angered by the incident, around 400 people attacked a CRPF camp, prompting security forces to open fire, leaving two of them dead and about 20 others injured.
The protesters were unhappy with the security forces for allegedly failing to take action against the militants.
The chief minister condemned the bomb attack and said the investigation would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Representatives of political parties expressed deep concern over the law and order situation and emphasised the need to maintain peace, unity, and communal harmony.
At least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hills-based Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May 2023.
The state has been under the President’s rule for nearly a year since February 2025.