Manipur bomb blast: Indefinite curfew imposed in 5 valley districts; government hands over probe to NIA

NEW DELHI: The Manipur government imposed an indefinite curfew across four valley districts—Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Kakching—after two children were killed in a bomb blast that triggered violent protests and clashes with security forces.

The state government has also decided to hand over the probe into the blast to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).District magistrates of the four districts issued separate orders prohibiting the movement of people outside their residences with immediate effect from April 7 until further notice. “The order shall not apply to government agencies engaged in maintenance of law and order, essential emergency and health services,” the notification stated.Earlier in the day, the government suspended internet and mobile data services, including broadband, VSATs and VPN, for three days in five valley districts in view of the tense law and order situation.Announcing the handover of the bomb attack case to the NIA, Manipur chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said the decision was taken after discussions with the state home minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh and other MLAs. Condemning the attack, the CM said, “The act appears to be the handiwork of individuals or groups with vested interests in disturbing the prevailing peace in the State.”

He added that a massive search operation was underway with combined forces of the State Police, Assam Rifles and CRPF, supported by helicopter surveillance. “The culprits will be caught at the earliest,” the CM assured.Manipur home minister Singh described the attackers as “peace disruptors who try to derail normalcy whenever the situation begins to improve.” He said during a high-level security meeting chaired by the CM, orders were given to capture the perpetrators of the Tronglaobi blast “dead or alive.” The state has also redeployed commandos in hill areas after a long gap, using bulletproof vehicles to bolster security operations, he added.Violence erupted in Bishnupur district earlier on Tuesday after two children, a five-year-old boy and a five-month-old girl, died of a bomb blast after suspected militants hurled a bomb at their home in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai area in Bishnupur district around 1.05 am. Their mother was also injured and admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The blast set off widespread protests in the area, with demonstrators blocking the Imphal-Tidim Road and setting several trucks ablaze.Angry protesters stormed a CRPF camp near Gelmol, a few hundred metres from the bomb blast site, torching vehicles and vandalising property. At least two people were killed and five others injured when CRPF personnel opened fire on the mob, officials said.Appealing for calm, the CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh urged people “not to give in to emotions” and to cooperate with security operations aimed at restoring peace.

He also visited the injured family members at Raj Medicity Hospital in Imphal and announced ex gratia assistance for the victims’ families.Local MLA Thongam Shanti Singh and former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh were among those who condemned the incident. Shanti Singh described it as a “heinous act of violence” and an “act of terrorism,” while N Biren Singh said he was “deeply pained by the loss of innocent lives,” calling the attack “a horrific act against civilians, especially children.”