Imphal/Moirang, April 7: Tension escalated in Manipur’s Bishnupur district after two toddlers were killed and their mother injured in a suspected militant bomb attack at Moirang Tronglaobi early Tuesday, triggering widespread protests during which three trucks, including two oil tankers bound for Churachandpur, were set on fire at Moirang.
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| House at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai damaged in a late-night bomb attack in Bishnupur district, Manipur. |
According to officials and local sources, the attack occurred at around 1:00–1:05 AM when a projectile-believed to be a mortar shell or rocket - fired by suspected Kuki militants struck a civilian house at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai. The blast hit the bedroom where a mother and her two children were sleeping.
The explosion killed a 5-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister on the spot, while their mother sustained serious injuries. The powerful blast reportedly pierced the walls of the house before exploding inside the room.
Sources said the projectile was allegedly fired from nearby hill slopes located more than three kilometres away, suggesting the attack originated from areas bordering Churachandpur district.
Tronglaobi, a low-lying village in the southern part of Moirang, lies close to the hill ranges of Churachandpur and had witnessed frequent gunfire during the peak of the ethnic conflict in 2023 and 2024.
The incident sparked outrage among residents. Enraged locals gathered in large numbers at the Moirang Police Station, condemning the attack and demanding immediate action against those responsible. During the protests, three trucks travelling towards Churachandpur, including two oil tankers, were burnt.
Moirang MLA Thongam Shanti Singh strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism.
“I strongly condemn the brutal attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, under my constituency, allegedly carried out by Kuki narco-terrorists,” the MLA said after visiting the incident site.
“The incident occurred around 1:05 AM when a mother and her two minor children were asleep together in their bedroom. This heinous act of violence 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 stated.
Offering condolences to the bereaved family, the MLA said, “I offer my heartfelt tributes to the innocent lives lost - a five-year-old boy and a six-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.”
Security forces have intensified vigil in the area following the attack, while authorities are monitoring the situation amid heightened tensions in the region.
