Key Highlights
- Tragic Casualties: A 5-year-old boy and a 5-month-old infant girl were killed in their sleep during a pre-dawn rocket strike in Moirang.
- Family Targeted: The victims are the children of a Border Security Force (BSF) head constable currently serving on the national border.
- Civilian Unrest: Enraged protesters torched two oil tankers and a truck, while a large mob attempted to storm a CRPF camp.
- Strict Security Measures: Internet services have been suspended for 72 hours, and an indefinite curfew remains in place across five valley districts.
- Casualties in Clashes: At least 19 protesters were injured, and one was reportedly killed, during a confrontation with security forces at the P. Gelmol hills.
The fragile peace in Manipur was shattered in the early hours of April 7, 2026, when a high-intensity projectile, believed to be a rocket or RPG, struck a residential home in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai. The attack occurred at approximately 1:00 AM while the residents were asleep. The explosion instantly claimed the lives of 5, year, old Oinam Tomthin and his 5, month, old sister, Oinam Yaisana.
Their mother, Oinam Binita, sustained life-threatening injuries and is currently in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Imphal. Binita, a nurse based in Guwahati, had only recently returned home for the Chakumba, a sacred Meitei weaning ceremony for her infant daughter. The children’s father, Oinam Mangalngamba, is a BSF personnel currently posted in Bihar; he is reportedly rushing back to the state following the tragedy.
Violent Protests and Clashes with Security Forces
As news of the children’s deaths spread, intense public outrage sparked widespread violence across the Bishnupur and valley districts. In Tronglaobi, an irate mob torched two bitumen tankers and a truck loaded with iron rods that were allegedly heading toward Churachandpur.
The situation turned critical when a large group of demonstrators marched toward a CRPF camp located near the P. Gelmol hills, situated on the sensitive border between Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts. To prevent the mob from breaching the camp, security forces used smoke bombs and live ammunition. Hospital sources confirm that 19 individuals were injured in the skirmish, and there are unconfirmed reports of one fatality at the site. Journalists covering the unrest were caught in the crossfire and forced to seek cover in nearby drainage canals.
Administrative Crackdown and Latest Updates
In an emergency move to prevent the escalation of rumors and further violence, the Manipur Home Department ordered an immediate suspension of internet services across five districts: Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. The ban, which covers mobile data, broadband, and VPN services, will remain in effect for at least 72 hours.
Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh chaired a high-level security meeting on Tuesday afternoon to review the law and order situation. Describing the rocket attack as an “outright assault on humanity,” the Chief Minister vowed that the perpetrators would be “hunted down and dealt with firmly under the law.”
Current Status (as of April 7, 2026):
- Curfew: Indefinite curfew in place for five valley districts.
- Search Operations: Security forces have launched massive combing operations in the adjoining hill areas to identify the launch site of the rockets.
- Schools: All educational institutions in the valley districts remained closed today as a precautionary measure.
The use of high, tech long, range projectiles has raised serious concerns among security experts, as Tronglaobi was also the site of the state’s first rocket attack in September 2024. Authorities are investigating whether these new strikes represent a significant escalation in the capability of armed groups operating in the region.
