Clashes erupted between police personnel and protesters in Manipur’s Imphal West district after thousands defied orders prohibiting public gatherings to take out a torch rally against a recent attack that killed two children, India Today NE reported.

The two children were killed in Bishnupur’s Tronglaobi on April 7 after a suspected projectile strike hit their home. The incident, which occurred while the family was asleep, left a five-year-old boy and five-month-old girl dead.

Residents had alleged that the projectile was fired from nearby hill slopes, India Today NE reported.

It was also alleged that the projectile had been fired by suspected Kuki militants.

The village where the incident took place is located near the hill areas of Churachandpur and has witnessed tensions since the ethnic clashes broke out between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities in May 2023.

At least 260 persons have been killed and more than 59,000 persons displaced since the conflict began. There were periodic upticks in violence in 2024 and 2025.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, a Kuki organisation, had rejected the claims that members of the community were connected to the strike on April 7. It had added that “any untoward incident” affecting the Meitei community “should not be automatically attributed to the Kuki-Zo people without proper investigation”.

On Thursday, the protest against the incident began from Lilong and moved towards Singjamei, drawing thousands of participants who demanded action against the suspected militants linked to it, India Today NE reported.

The demonstration was organised under the banner of the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation, with support from other groups.

As the rally moved to areas near government installations, including the chief minister’s residence, the police headquarters and the Lok Bhavan, police personnel asked the protesters to turn back as prohibitory orders were in force.

However, the situation turned violent during the confrontation. Subsequently, security forces fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd, PTI reported.

Several persons were injured in the clashes.

An unidentified official told the news agency that “there are elements trying to take advantage of the prevailing situation in the state for their respective anti-government and anti-security forces agendas”.

Following the strike on April 7, two protesters had also been shot dead after a mob allegedly stormed a Central Reserve Police Force camp in Bishnupur.

In response to the violence, the Manipur administration had suspended internet services, including mobile data, in five districts – Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur.

Talks were also held earlier between the state government and a joint action committee formed after the incident, which ended without a final agreement, India Today NE reported.

The meeting at the residence of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh was attended by ministers, MLAs, members of the committee and the family of those who were killed.

In a statement after the meeting, Singh expressed “profound grief” over the incident and said that the investigation was being carried out with “utmost seriousness”.