Manipur's Tronglaobi child victims laid to rest as remains reach native village

The mortal remains of two children killed in the bomb attack at Tronglaobi in Manipur’s Bishnupur district last month were brought to their native village on May 2, where their last rites were performed amid grief and emotional scenes.

Officials said the bodies of the five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister had remained in the mortuary for 25 days after family members initially refused to accept the remains, demanding that those responsible for the attack be brought to justice at the earliest.

The children were killed in the April 7 bomb attack at Tronglaobi, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and violent protests across Manipur’s five valley districts. Following the public outcry, the case was later handed over to the National Investigation Agency for investigation.

Earlier, Manipur Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh had appealed to the bereaved family to accept the bodies and assured them that all efforts were being made to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

Hundreds of people lined the route to Tronglaobi to pay floral tributes as the mortal remains were taken in an open vehicle for the final journey. Residents gathered in large numbers at the village to offer condolences and participate in the funeral rites.

The incident remains one of the most tragic episodes in the continuing unrest in Manipur, with demands for justice growing stronger across the state.