The Meira Paibi and allied groups have intensified protests with a week-long shutdown, saying they remain dissatisfied despite the NIA probe and government assurances.
BY PC Bureau
April 19, 2026: Meitei women-led civil society organisations in Manipur, particularly the Meira Paibi groups (traditional women torch-bearers), have intensified their agitation by extending an initial five-day shutdown to a seven-day statewide shutdown in protest over the April 7 bomb attack in Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district, which killed a five-year-old boy and his infant sister and seriously injured their mother.
The Meira Paibi groups, along with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the incident, have condemned the attack as a brutal assault on innocent civilians and are demanding swift justice, including the immediate arrest of all those responsible. They have set April 25 as the deadline for authorities to act.
The government has already handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has promised strong action against the culprits. However, the Meira Paibi groups remain dissatisfied, arguing that visible results and accountability have yet to materialise.
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Alongside the shutdown, the Meira Paibis have held massive torch rallies for three consecutive nights across Imphal, with thousands of women and residents carrying flaming torches through areas such as Singjamei, Sagolband, Khurai Lamlong, and other parts of Imphal West and East. The rallies have echoed with slogans demanding justice, the arrest of those responsible, and stronger action to protect civilians.
Several of these protests have turned tense, leading to clashes with security forces after demonstrators defied prohibitory orders and attempted to move past barricades. Reports said some sections of the crowd resorted to stone-pelting and used slingshots, while security forces responded with tear gas shells, smoke bombs, and baton charges to disperse protesters. Several people, including women, were injured in the confrontations, as smoke-filled streets and late-night unrest triggered panic among residents.
Manipur, India.
It become a daily affairs. Thousands of women with torch ( Meira Paibi ) on the streets of Imphal, Manipur seeking Justice , urging to enforce Law and order across the state. Demanding crack down against terrorists who are terrorizing the state under the so called… pic.twitter.com/tkqBUbzGcl— huidrom athouba (@HuidromAthouba) April 17, 2026
Initially announced as a five-day shutdown, the agitation has now been extended to a seven-day statewide shutdown from midnight of April 18–19 until April 25, with protest leaders warning of intensified agitation if their demands are not met.
The intensity and nature of the protests — despite the case being handed to the NIA and assurances from the Chief Minister — have also sparked questions in some quarters over whether there is a political design behind the movement. Observers note that while such violent incidents are unfortunately not new to Manipur, the scale, persistence, and escalation of the agitation have invited scrutiny and speculation over possible motives beyond the immediate demand for justice.
The shutdown has severely disrupted normal life across Manipur, with markets and commercial establishments shut, roads largely deserted, public transport curtailed, and daily life affected across several districts.
The Meira Paibi movement, long regarded as a powerful force in Manipur’s civil society, continues to play a central role in mobilising public opinion and pressing for accountability amid the state’s prolonged insecurity and recurring violence.
