Manipur Bomb Attack: Mother Learns of Children's Death Days After Tragedy
In a heart-wrenching development from Manipur, Oinam Binita, the mother of two young children killed in a bomb attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai in Bishnupur district, only learned about their deaths on Thursday morning. The devastating incident occurred at 1:10 am on Tuesday, when a bomb exploded in their bedroom, claiming the lives of her five-year-old son and five-month-old daughter. Binita, who was injured in the blast, is now fighting for her life in a hospital in Imphal.
Her family had concealed the tragic news from her until Thursday, fearing the impact on her fragile health. Upon discovering the truth through a newspaper report, Binita was overwhelmed with grief, repeatedly asking for her children and insisting on going to them. This revelation has added another layer of trauma to an already horrific situation.
Grandmother's Anguish and Demand for Justice
The children's grandmother, Hijam Ningol Oinam Ongbi Loidang, spoke to the media on Thursday at the hospital complex, her voice marked by grief and anger. She demanded justice for the killing of her grandson and granddaughter, urging authorities to identify and arrest those responsible within five days. "What was the fault of my grandchildren? They were too young to even understand the world," she said, questioning the government's claims of normalcy in the region.
Loidang further expressed her frustration, asking, "How could such a brutal act happen, killing children? When will this violence end? Who will be the next victim?" She emphasized that no amount of ex gratia compensation could replace her grandchildren and called for an end to the violence, urging the government to take the matter seriously.
She also highlighted the deteriorating condition of Binita, who is reportedly in deep trauma. "She keeps asking us to bring her children back. She is even angry with us for not telling her about the death of the children. We don't know how to respond," Loidang said, breaking down in tears.
Protests and Self-Immolation Attempt Amid Rising Tensions
Meanwhile, tensions escalated in Imphal as police thwarted an attempt of self-immolation by a man outside the Lok Bhavan on Thursday. The individual, identified as Sinam Apollo (32) from Imphal West district, reportedly took this drastic step around 1 pm, distressed over the killing of the two siblings in the bomb attack.
According to reports, Apollo doused himself with kerosene in an apparent bid to set himself ablaze. Security personnel at the scene acted promptly and restrained him before he could carry out the act. He was later taken into police custody for further questioning.
In a related development, dozens of people from the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and four other organisations took out a public rally starting from the AMUCO office at Kwakeithel in Imphal. They marched towards the Chief Minister's bungalow, demanding the removal of central forces and the deployment of state forces instead.
The rally also addressed the Tronglaobi incident, in which three innocent civilians were killed, calling for an FIR to be filed against the concerned CRPF personnel and for a judicial inquiry to be conducted. The memorandum further demanded that the culprits responsible for the killing of two children and the injury of their mother be identified and punished without delay according to the law of the land.
State forces and RAF personnel blocked the procession at Hodam Leirak area in Imphal West. Subsequently, a representation of the protesters was allowed to meet Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh and submit the memorandum, highlighting the growing public outcry over the violence in the region.
