Imphal: The Government of Manipur has launched a large-scale military operation to apprehend those responsible for the deadly blast at Tronglaobi that claimed the lives of two children in the early hours of Monday. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced that the case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a thorough investigation.
Addressing a press conference at his official residence in Imphal, the Chief Minister strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate attempt by vested interests to disrupt the fragile peace in the state. He stated that the decision to transfer the case to the NIA was taken after consultations with the Home Minister and other legislators.
The Chief Minister informed that the perpetrators have not yet been identified, but security forces have already launched an intensive combing operation across affected areas. A coordinated deployment involving the State Police, Assam Rifles, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been put in place. Helicopters are also being used to support the operation. He assured that the culprits would be apprehended at the earliest.
A high-level security review meeting was convened with officials from the Army, Assam Rifles, State Police, and CRPF, during which directives were issued to intensify operations and ensure swift action against those involved.
Appealing for calm, the Chief Minister urged citizens not to be swayed by emotions and to cooperate with authorities in restoring normalcy. He emphasized the importance of public support in maintaining peace during the ongoing operations.
State Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh echoed similar concerns, stating that disruptive elements often attempt to derail progress whenever the situation shows signs of improvement. He revealed that during the security review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, instructions were issued to security agencies to capture the perpetrators of the Tronglaobi blast “dead or alive.” He also noted that state commandos have been redeployed in hill areas after a prolonged gap, with the use of bulletproof vehicles to strengthen operational capabilities.
In a related development, the Home Minister reported that at least five individuals sustained bullet injuries during a protest near a CRPF camp in Bishnupur district earlier in the day. Two of the injured later succumbed to their injuries, while others were treated for minor wounds.
Both the Chief Minister and the Home Minister later visited the injured at Raj Medicity Hospital in Imphal. The Chief Minister also expressed grief over the recent death of a minor girl residing at the Akampat relief camp and announced ex gratia assistance for the affected families, along with assurances of all possible support.
