In a tragic incident early Tuesday morning, a four-year-old boy and his newborn sister lost their lives when a projectile struck their residence in the Bishnupur district of Manipur while they were asleep.
The attack took place in the village of Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, which lies along the delicate boundary separating the Meitei-dominated valley from the Kuki-Zomi-dominated hills. Their mother, Oinam Binita, sustained severe injuries from the explosion and is currently receiving medical care at a local hospital.
The children’s grandmother, Oinam Bala, recounted the horrifying events that unfolded around 1 a.m. “My daughter-in-law called for help. When I inquired about the situation, she screamed that a bomb had exploded inside the room,” Bala shared. “I couldn’t comprehend how a bomb could enter the house. When I hurried inside, the room was filled with smoke. I found my two grandchildren covered in blood. I was overwhelmed with panic and could only shout for assistance.”
Binita, who works as a nurse in Guwahati, had returned to Manipur in January for maternity leave. Her husband, Oinam Mangalsana, serves as a soldier in the Border Security Force (BSF) and is currently stationed in Bihar.
Later that morning, residents of Tronglaobi began fleeing their homes after a live rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) shell was discovered just a few meters from the site of the incident. The device was connected and aimed at a house.
As news of the children’s deaths spread, protests erupted in Bishnupur. Demonstrators took to the streets, creating roadblocks by burning tires and setting fire to three trucks, including two oil tankers. Protesters also obstructed the Moirang police station by piling burning logs at its entrance. The unrest intensified in Imphal, where many residents blocked roads, burned tires, and disrupted traffic, leading to the closure of all local businesses.
Situated near the border with Churachandpur district, Tronglaobi has been a site of recurrent violence since ethnic tensions escalated in the state on May 3, 2023.
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