Manipur: Torch rallies and road blockades intensify public anger over Tronglaobi killings

Torch rallies led by women’s groups have emerged as a powerful symbol of public anger in Manipur, as widespread road blockades continue to disrupt normal life and mount pressure on authorities over the killing of two young siblings in Tronglaobi.

Members of the Meira Paibi Lup, widely known as the “Women Torch Bearers”, along with youth groups, have been staging night-time torch processions alongside daytime blockades at key locations including Imphal Mayai Lambi, Heirangoithong and Singjamei. Protesters have restricted vehicular movement, while markets, shops and most commercial establishments remain shut, bringing large parts of the state to a standstill.

The protests stem from the April 7 attack at Tronglaobi Awang Leikai, where suspected militants allegedly hurled a bomb at a residential house in the early hours. The blast killed a five-year-old boy and his five-month-old sister as they slept, and left their mother injured, sparking widespread outrage.

Demonstrators have set April 25 as a deadline for authorities to arrest those responsible, warning of intensified agitation if action is delayed.

Security has been stepped up across Manipur in response to the unrest. Police have also raised concerns that while many participants in the torch rallies are demanding justice, some “anti-social elements” are attempting to exploit the protests to incite violence and target security personnel.