Imphal: The investigation into the bomb explosion in Bishnupur district, which claimed the lives of two young children, will now be conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced on April 7, Tuesday.
At a press briefing, Singh called the attack a “cruel act” and said it appeared to be carried out by groups or individuals trying to disrupt peace in the state. He added that the decision to involve the NIA came after discussions with state officials and local lawmakers.
He said the attackers appear to be aiming to create unrest and instructed security forces to catch them as quickly as possible.
The explosion occurred at around 1 am in Moirang Tronglaobi when militants reportedly threw a bomb into a house. A five-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl died, and their mother was injured.
Authorities said the family was asleep at the time of the blast.
Singh noted that the suspects have not yet been identified, and a large-scale search operation is underway. Teams from the state police, Assam Rifles, and CRPF are involved, with aerial surveillance supporting the effort.
He urged residents to remain calm, avoid acting in anger, and cooperate with security personnel while normalcy is restored.
The incident triggered protests in several areas. In Tronglaobi, demonstrators set fire to two oil tankers and a truck near a petrol station, burned tires outside the local police station, and damaged a temporary police post.
Protests spread to parts of Imphal, where demonstrators blocked roads and stopped vehicles, causing major disruptions.
State Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam reported that clashes during the unrest left two people dead and five others injured after a group attacked a CRPF camp in Bishnupur.
Protesters also set vehicles on fire and damaged sections of the camp while expressing anger over the deaths of the two children.