The victims, children of a Border Security Force personnel, were killed in their sleep, while their mother remains critically injured, triggering unrest and clashes in the region.
BY PC Bureau
April 9, 2026 — The rocket-propelled shell that killed two young children in Tronglaobi Awang Leikai village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district was likely fired from close range, possibly just 120 to 150 metres from their home, with preliminary investigations pointing to the involvement of local elements, according to security sources.
The village lies along a sensitive fault line between the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and Kuki-Zomi-inhabited hill areas, a region that has witnessed prolonged ethnic tensions. Security officials said the nearest Kuki villages are located around 3 kilometres away, but these settlements are currently under the control of central forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force, along with units of the Gorkha Regiment and Sikh Regiment. Residents from those villages had already vacated the area amid earlier unrest.
Investigators say the proximity of the firing point makes it unlikely that the shell originated from the hill-based settlements, reinforcing suspicions of involvement by local or valley-based armed elements.
Police have reportedly recovered a live shell and a launcher from the edge of the village, believed to be the firing point. Initial examination indicates that while the launcher was country-made, the projectile itself was of military grade, suggesting it may have been sourced from militant groups or illicit stockpiles.
The early-morning attack killed a four-year-old boy and his newborn sister while they were asleep. The children were reportedly the offspring of a personnel from the Border Security Force. Their mother, Oinam Binita, sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
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The incident triggered fresh unrest in the area, with an angry mob attempting to storm a nearby CRPF camp, prompting retaliatory firing by security forces. The death toll rose to three after a 31-year-old man, injured in the clashes, succumbed at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences.
Authorities have imposed curfew restrictions across the Imphal Valley as tensions remain high.
Officials suspect the incident may have been aimed at undermining the administration led by Y Khemchand Singh, which has been attempting outreach across communities.
Manipur Police on Tuesday arrested three suspected cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) in the aftyermath of Bishnupur attack. However, the UKNA has strongly denied any role in the attack, rejecting the allegations made by the police. In a statement, the group said it does not target civilians under any circumstances, particularly children, and dismissed claims linking it to the blast as “baseless.” The outfit further asserted that none of its cadres had been arrested, contradicting reports suggesting that individuals associated with the group were in custody.
The conflicting claims have added another layer of complexity to an already sensitive investigation. Security agencies are continuing to verify the identities and affiliations of the suspects, while also examining other possible angles, including the involvement of local operatives or rival armed groups. Officials say the probe remains open-ended, with efforts underway to establish accountability and prevent further escalation in the region.
The case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency, with a large-scale operation underway to track down those responsible.
