Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has appealed to the family of two children who were victims of a bomb attack in Bishnupur district to accept their bodies. The children, aged 5 and 6 months, were killed in the attack on April 7, while their mother was seriously injured. The bodies have been in the morgue for 19 days as the family demanded identification, arrest, and punishment of the attackers.
Thousands of people, including women from Imphal Valley, joined a protest rally organized by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The rally, aimed at seeking justice for the victims, faced resistance from security forces as it moved towards Kangla Fort Western Gate. The Chief Minister assured that security agencies are working round-the-clock to apprehend the perpetrators.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to dialogue with all organizations to restore peace in Manipur. He expressed concern over the impact of ongoing unrest on various sections of society, including daily wage earners, traders, and students. Singh condemned the killings in Bishnupur and Ukhrul districts, labeling them as inhuman acts that have instilled fear and sorrow among the people.
Protests demanding justice for the slain children and efforts towards peace were staged in Imphal. The COCOMI-led rally attracted participants from different regions. Security forces intervened as protesters tried to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence, using tear gas shells to control the situation. A delegation later met the Chief Minister to present their demands.
Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh disclosed that the COCOMI memorandum highlighted seven key issues and demands, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting indigenous communities. Investigations into the Bishnupur blast and the Ukhrul ambush have been handed over to the National Investigation Agency, with a team already on-site for the probe.
