Five-Day Shutdown Called in Manipur Over Deadly Blast

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Imphal
• Apr 18, 2026
• 66

A five-day statewide shutdown has been called across Manipur starting Sunday (April 19), as women’s groups and civil society organisations intensified their demand for justice in the Tronglaobi bomb attack.

The shutdown call was jointly announced by Meira Paibis, several civil society organisations, and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in response to the incident. The move marks an escalation of protests over the attack, which killed two children and their mother. Subsequent unrest also led to the deaths of three protesters.

Meira Paibi leader Chanambam Maipaktombi Devi said the shutdown is being observed in strong condemnation of the attack and to demand swift action. The groups have set April 25 as the deadline for authorities to arrest all those involved and meet the demands raised by the JAC, warning of intensified agitation if their demands are not fulfilled.

Key demands include the arrest of all perpetrators, a military crackdown on suspected Kuki militants, deployment of state forces in place of central forces in peripheral areas, and a judicial inquiry into the role of certain security units. The JAC has alleged negligence by the 8 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force stationed at P. Gelmon and the 2 J&K Light Infantry Company at Tronglaobi.

Protests have continued across the state, with demonstrations taking place both during the day and at night in several areas.

Meanwhile, the case has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency, which has begun its probe. According to the state’s Home Minister, five cadres of the United Kuki National Army suspected of involvement in the attack have been arrested so far.