Two toddlers were killed and their mother injured after a bomb attack by suspected militants in Bishnupur district, Manipur, in the early hours of April 7, 2026, officials said. The incident has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in the conflict-hit state.
The explosion took place around 1 am at a house in Moirang Tronglaobi village, where the children and their mother were asleep. According to officials, a bomb allegedly fired by suspected militants landed inside the house, killing a five-year-old boy and an infant girl on the spot.
The injured mother was rushed for medical treatment as authorities launched an investigation into the attack.
Area has history of ethnic violence
Moirang Tronglaobi lies close to the hill areas of Churachandpur, a region that has witnessed repeated violence since ethnic clashes broke out in 2023 between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
Will @narendramodi stood silent when #KukiTerrorists kills children in #Manipur?
— Kangleipak Information Bureau (@yaiphaba07) April 7, 2026
This morning rocket fired by #Kuki #NarcoTerrorists struct a house in #Meetei village of #Tronglaobi killing 2 children
How long @AmitShah & #AssamRifle continue to shelter #Kukis@YKhemchandSingh pic.twitter.com/CzJNPufhf6
The area had earlier seen frequent gunfire and tensions during the peak of the conflict in 2023 and 2024, and sporadic incidents have continued since then.
Political reactions and condemnation
Local BJP MLA Th Shanti Singh strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “brutal” and “an act of terrorism”.
“This heinous act is nothing less than an act of terrorism. Such inhuman acts have no place in our society,” he said, offering condolences to the bereaved family.
State Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam also reacted, saying that the government would ensure strict action.
“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,” he said.
Kuki organisation rejects allegations
Amid claims that Kuki militants were behind the attack, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum rejected the allegations and urged authorities not to jump to conclusions.
The group said that incidents affecting Meitei areas should not automatically be attributed to the Kuki-Zo community without proper investigation. It also pointed out that buffer zones between the communities are heavily guarded by security forces, making such cross-movement difficult.
Ongoing conflict and rising concerns
The violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023, has so far claimed over 260 lives and displaced more than 59,000 people. While large-scale clashes have reduced, intermittent attacks continue to raise concerns about long-term peace and stability in the region.
Authorities have said that security has been tightened in the area following the latest incident, even as investigations continue to determine those responsible for the deadly attack.
