Manipur shutdown enters second day over child deaths
What's the story
A five-day shutdown has been called in Manipur's valley districts after a bomb blast killed two children earlier this month. The bandh, which started on Sunday, is led by the Meira Paibis (women torchbearers), civil society organizations, and a people's collective formed after the deadly explosion. The incident occurred on April 7 in Bishnupur district, killing a five-year-old boy and a five-month-old girl.
Protests
Forces fire tear gas at protesters
Meanwhile, security forces in Manipur's Kakching district resorted to using tear gas, smoke bombs, and stun grenades on Sunday night to disperse protesters. The demonstration was a mass Meira (torch) rally demanding justice for the children killed in the militant attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Bishnupur. The protest turned violent when demonstrators tried to march toward the Kakching Deputy Commissioner's office but were stopped by police at Kakching Keithel bridge.
Clash escalation
Crowd control measures deployed, crowd alleges excessive force
Tensions intensified significantly when security forces moved in to disperse a large gathering of protesters, according to India Today NE. In an effort to control the situation, authorities deployed tear gas, smoke bombs, and stun grenades, leading to protestors alleging excessive use of force by the central security personnel. Despite the chaos, early reports indicated that there were no serious injuries among the protesters, though the situation remained volatile.
Official response
Protests against killings
Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the attack as a "barbaric act" and assured that those responsible would be brought to justice. The incident led to widespread protests across the state, with locals torching two oil tankers and a truck near a petrol pump. At least two people were killed, and five were injured when an angry mob stormed a Central Reserve Police Force camp in Bishnupur.