A Sinister Sign of Manipur’s Deepening Collapse

The firing at a children’s home in Imphal West marks a disturbing low in Manipur’s prolonged crisis. Two masked men, dressed in black, approached the Children Home for Boys at Sagolband Meino Leirak and fired several rounds at the gate before escaping. No casualties were reported, but the act was deliberate, targeted, and executed with intent. The facility, run under the state’s social welfare department as part of the centrally sponsored Mission Vatsalya scheme, was clearly identified as a children’s home. That it was chosen as a target reflects the collapse of moral and social boundaries in the state.
The shelter houses thirty children, including six brought from relief camps—internally displaced victims of the ethnic violence that continues to devastate the state. These children have already experienced trauma and loss, and they have been placed in care with the hope of safety and recovery. To now face violence even in such a shelter is a shameful indicator of the lawlessness that has taken root. The fact that no one was injured does not lessen the gravity of the crime. The message was one of fear and domination.
The location of the incident adds to the concern. This is not a remote village or an isolated outpost—it happened in a densely populated area of Imphal. The perpetrators managed to reach the site, fire several rounds, and flee without resistance. The brazenness of the act and the absence of immediate consequences point to a dangerous level of impunity.
Authorities are exploring the possibility of extortion as a motive. The home is managed by an NGO, and across the state, various establishments have reportedly received similar threats. In recent days, several individuals, including members of militant outfits, have been arrested for extortion-related activities. Yet, in this case, the management of the children’s home has stated that no threats or ransom demands were received beforehand. This makes the attack all the more troubling. It appears to be an act of intimidation, an assertion of control, or a signal meant to instill fear.
The residents of Sagolband Meino Leirak responded swiftly, staging a sit-in protest to condemn the attack and demand justice. Their peaceful demonstration stands in sharp contrast to the violence inflicted upon their locality. But while community resilience is important, it is not a substitute for state action. The government must respond with more than vague assurances or routine investigations. When a children’s shelter is fired upon, there must be immediate arrests, heightened protection for similar institutions, and a clear, public condemnation from those in power.
This attack should have prompted an emergency review of all child care facilities, especially those housing displaced children. Instead, the silence from official quarters is deeply unsettling. It reveals a disturbing lack of urgency, even in the face of violence directed at the most vulnerable.
Manipur has seen prolonged unrest, and violence has become a grim routine. But there are red lines that should never be crossed. A children’s home is one such line. It exists not only to provide care, but also to symbolise compassion and recovery in the midst of conflict. An attack on such a place is not merely criminal—it is an assault on the idea of protection itself.
The state cannot allow such acts to become normalized. Law and order is not measured only by arrests or deployments, but by whether citizens—especially children—can sleep safely at night. If that cannot be guaranteed, then it is not just a failure of policing; it is a failure of governance and of basic human responsibility.