Two young children were killed and their mother sustained injuries after a suspected militant attack targeted a civilian residence in Manipur’s Bishnupur district in the early hours of Tuesday.
According to officials, the incident occurred around 1 am in Moirang Tronglaobi area when an explosive device was hurled at a house while the family was asleep.
The blast claimed the lives of a five-year-old boy and an infant girl aged about six months.
The injured woman, believed to be the children’s mother, was rushed to a nearby medical facility.
The chief minister said the attack was a "barbaric act" and "an outright assault on humanity and a direct attempt to derail the hard-earned peace in Manipur."
"I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Let there be no doubt, those responsible will be identified, hunted down, and dealt with firmly under the law. Such acts of terror will not be tolerated under any circumstances," he said.
The CM asserted that the state government stands resolute in protecting every citizen and will take all necessary measures to ensure that peace, order, and stability are not compromised.
He also urged the people to remain united and resolute against those who seek to disturb the collective harmony.
Locals staged a protest this morning and torched two oil tankers and a truck near a petrol pump in the area.
They burnt tyres in front of the Moirang Police Station and destroyed a makeshift police outpost. Security forces have been deployed in the area to control the situation.
(With inputs from PTI)