Relief in Manipur as 27 bombs safely defused
During the operation, country-made bombs were discovered near Monglham village on Thursday and safely neutralised, bringing relief to local residents.
Imphal woke up to a rare sense of relief on Friday after security forces safely recovered and neutralised 27 country-made bombs in Manipur’s Imphal East district, averting what could have been another deadly episode in a state already scarred by prolonged violence.
Police said the explosives were discovered during a targeted operation conducted on Thursday near Monglham village. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, security personnel combed the area and located the bombs hidden in a vulnerable zone close to civilian habitations. A senior officer confirmed that all 27 devices were safely defused on the spot by trained teams, preventing potential loss of life and damage to property.
For residents living in and around Monglham village, the discovery was deeply unsettling. Many families have spent the past two years living with uncertainty, fearful of sudden violence or hidden threats left behind during bouts of unrest. The successful neutralisation of the bombs brought a measure of reassurance, though it also underscored how fragile normalcy remains in parts of the state.
In a separate operation earlier this week, security forces recovered three firearms and ammunition from the Langdum Nungjengbi area of Imphal East district. The recovery, made on Wednesday, highlighted the continuing circulation of illegal weapons in the region, a factor that has repeatedly fuelled clashes and heightened tensions.
Officials said such search-and-cordon operations have become routine since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023. What began as localised clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities quickly escalated into widespread unrest, leaving deep social and physical scars. Entire neighbourhoods were emptied, villages were burnt, and thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
More than 260 people have been killed in the violence over the past two years, while tens of thousands have been displaced. Relief camps across the state continue to shelter families who remain unable or unwilling to return home, either because their houses were destroyed or because fear still looms large. For many, the conflict has meant not just the loss of property, but the erosion of trust between communities that once lived side by side.
The recovery of explosives and weapons is a stark reminder that the conflict’s aftershocks are far from over. Security officials say hidden arms, abandoned during earlier clashes, continue to pose a serious risk. Bombs and improvised explosive devices, often crudely assembled, can be triggered accidentally, endangering civilians long after active violence subsides.
The political situation in Manipur remains equally fragile. The Centre imposed President’s Rule after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned amid mounting criticism over his handling of the crisis. With the state government dissolved, administrative control shifted to the Governor, as authorities sought to stabilise a situation that had spiralled beyond local control.
Although the Manipur Legislative Assembly technically has a tenure until 2027, it has been placed under suspended animation. This means elected representatives remain in limbo, unable to function, while governance is carried out by the central administration. For ordinary citizens, this political uncertainty has added to feelings of alienation and neglect.
Security forces insist that operations will continue until all illegal arms and explosives are recovered. Their stated aim is to prevent fresh outbreaks of violence and create conditions for displaced families to return home safely. However, residents and civil society groups argue that lasting peace will require more than weapons seizures. Dialogue, reconciliation and accountability, they say, are essential to heal the deep wounds left by the conflict.
In Imphal East, the defusing of 27 bombs may have prevented immediate tragedy, but it also served as a sobering reminder of the state’s unresolved crisis. Each recovered weapon tells a story of fear, mistrust and breakdown. Until those underlying issues are addressed, Manipur’s journey back to peace remains uncertain — marked by cautious relief, lingering anxiety and a collective hope that the worst is finally behind them.