The government of Manipur on Tuesday ordered a three-day suspension of internet and mobile data services across five districts amid unrest and a heightened security clampdown following the deaths of two children.
Protests have broken out in Manipur following the deaths of an infant and a five-year-old child in a suspected rocket attack on a house in Bishnupur early Tuesday.
In response to the worsening law and order situation, the state government has ordered an immediate suspension of internet and mobile data services in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur.
The injured were taken to a hospital in Imphal, where a five-month-old girl and a five-year-old boy later succumbed to their injuries. Their mother was also hurt in the attack.
Protesters attempted to storm a CRPF camp, while oil tankers were set on fire in protest against the suspected rocket strike that killed two children in Moirang.
What is happening in Manipur?
The state, already a hotspot of ethnic tensions, has once again turned volatile following the suspected attack early Tuesday. According to officials cited in earlier reports, suspected Kuki militants carried out the strike in Moirang Tronglaobi Awang Leikai at around 1:03 am.
The explosion took place at the home of a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel while the family was asleep, after a projectile struck the bedroom window.
K. Govindas condemned the attack in a post on X, stating: “In a barbaric early morning act, two innocent children – a five-year-old boy and a five-month-old baby girl – lost their lives while asleep with their mother. Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Such brutality will not be tolerated. The matter is under active investigation, and all necessary steps are being taken to bring those responsible to justice.”
Local residents said they heard a loud explosion soon after the projectile struck the house, sparking panic across the village. Tronglaobi, situated near the foothills of Churachandpur, has long been seen as vulnerable due to its proximity to areas where armed groups are believed to operate.
Tronglaobi in Bishnupur is located about 46 km from the state capital Imphal and lies close to Churachandpur. It is the same village where Manipur witnessed its first rocket attack in September 2024, in which a 72-year-old man was killed and five others were injured.
Meanwhile, another rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was discovered near the incident site.
Security forces have stepped up deployment in the region, placing it on high alert. Search operations and surveillance have been intensified in nearby hill areas to track down those responsible and prevent further escalation.
The current tensions come against the backdrop of ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which erupted following a high court order in May 2023. Although incidents of violence declined in 2025 after prolonged unrest, the situation in Manipur remains fragile.
The now-revoked May 2023 order by the Manipur High Court had granted the Meitei community certain benefits, including rights to own land in protected areas and reservations in government jobs.