At least five protestors demanding justice for a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister, whose killing in an explosion at Tronglaobi in the Bishnupur district this month triggered fresh violence in the ethnic violence-hit Manipur, were injured in a clash with security forces near chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s private residence at Singjamei in Imphal West on Thursday night.
Hundreds of protestors earlier joined a torch rally demanding justice for the two. After marching for around seven kilometres, security forces blocked the rally at the Singjamei crossing, around 600 metres from Singh’s private residence. A confrontation occurred as some of the protestors tried to continue the rally by chanting slogans like “justice for two minors” and “book the culprits”.
Security forces fired tear gas shells and mock bombs to control the protestors, who retaliated by throwing stones and firing slingshots. The clash lasted until around 1am on Friday. A similar protest was organised in Imphal East district.
On April 7, the killing of the five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister sparked protests. Three people were killed after security forces allegedly fired at a mob that stormed a paramilitary camp in Bishnupur. The mob was protesting the deaths of the two.
Manipur home minister Govindas Konthoujam said the Tronglaobi case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency. He said five suspected cadres of the banned United Kuki National Army, a Kuki underground outfit, were arrested for the attack.
Tensions have since continued in Meitei-dominated Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, and Kakching. A curfew from 5pm to 5am remains in force in five districts.
The ethnic violence in Manipur has claimed at least 260 lives and displaced around 60,000 people since May 2023. It first began between the Meitei and Kuki communities and has since involved almost every group. The Meiteis, mostly Hindu, live largely in the Imphal valley plains, while the Kukis, predominantly Christian, reside in the hills. Meiteis and Kukis withdrew to their respective strongholds after the ethnic violence began.
