Anger over Manipur killings reaches Lakhipur, demand for justice intensifies

A candlelight rally was held on Friday evening (April 17) at Purnagram in Lakhipur town, demanding justice for victims of the recent violence in Manipur, where two children were killed in a suspected militant attack and at least three protesters died in subsequent firing by security forces.

The rally was jointly organised by Purnagram Iputhou Thongnang Thougallup, Lakhipur Khuman Meira Paibi and Lakhipur Khuman Club. Around 300 people, mostly Manipuri women along with male members of the organisations, participated in the procession holding candles and offering prayers for the deceased.

The protest was held in response to the April 7 incident in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, where a five-year-old boy and his infant sister were killed after a projectile, suspected to have been fired by suspected Kuki militants, struck their home in the Moirang area during the early hours of the day. Their mother sustained critical injuries and remains under treatment.

The incident triggered widespread protests in the region. In one such protest, clashes broke out after demonstrators attempted to storm a nearby camp of the Central Reserve Police Force. Security personnel opened fire to disperse the crowd, leading to the deaths of at least two protesters on the same day, while another later succumbed to injuries.

During Friday’s event in Lakhipur, the rally began from the Iputhou Thongnang Temple and proceeded up to Saporomaina at the western end of the town before returning. Participants lit earthen lamps at temples along the route and prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives.

Speaking to reporters, Lakhipur Khuman Club president I. Tarun Singh strongly condemned the April 7 attack and questioned the role of security forces deployed in the area.

He questioned, “The location of the firing is around 1 km away from the CRPF camp. If the Kukis can attack so close to them, then what is the point of having them in the first place?”

Referring to the subsequent protest, he added, “A protest occurred by the locals and in the firing by CRPF personnel to control the crowd, three more died. So we demand the state government of Manipur to take strict action along with the national government against those involved in this terror act.”

Singh also demanded a CBI inquiry into both incidents to ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice.

The rally in Lakhipur reflects growing concern and solidarity among Manipuri communities outside the state, as anger continues over the deaths and the broader security situation in Manipur, where tensions remain high following the incident.