The Manipur government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of internet and mobile data services, including Broadband, VSATs and VPN in five valley districts for three days amid escalating tensions in the region.
According to an official release from the Home Department, internet and mobile services have been temporarily suspended in the Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts to "stop the spread of disinformation and false rumours.. in view of the prevailing law and order situation."
The government action came in the wake of a bomb explosion which killed two children in the Bishnupur district, earlier on Tuesday.
The incident occurred at around 1 am when a bomb was hurled by suspected militants at a house in the Moirang Tronglaobi area, killing a 5-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl, according to police.
Protests erupted across districts against the killings, with agitators setting fire to two oil tankers and a truck near a petrol pump in the Moirang Tronglaobi area.
At least four people were injured in police firing after a mob stormed a central force camp, located some 200 metres from Tronglaobi in Bishnapur. Protesters also set several vehicles parked inside the camp on fire.
"It is not yet clear who fired the shots and from where", police said, adding that at least four people have sustained gunshot injuries.
Earlier, a police bomb squad defused a locally made mortar shell in Bishnupur. Meanwhile, all shops and markets, along with educational institutions, remained closed in Imphal valley districts.
Protesters burnt tyres at Khurai, Wamgkhei, Yairipok in Imphal East district and at Kwakeithel and Thangmeiband areas in Imphal West district.
At Kha Potsangbam in Bishnupur district and along the road from Imphal to Moirang, protesters, mostly women, blocked the movement of security forces.
Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh chaired a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation and stateed that his government is committed to restoring peace and stability at the earliest.
"Chaired a high-level meeting with Hon'ble MLAs today at the secretariat to review the prevailing situation and deliberate on necessary measures to de-escalate tensions," he said in a post on X.
"While peace and normalcy have been disturbed, we remain firmly committed to restoring stability at the earliest. The government is actively exploring all viable options and taking decisive steps to bring back peace, ensure public safety, and uphold law and order across the state," he said.
Earlier, the CM described the attack as a "barbaric act" and assured the people that those responsible for the crime would be identified and dealt with firmly under the law.
(With inputs from PTI)