Imphal : After nearly a month of protests and negotiations, families on Saturday claimed the bodies of two infants killed in a suspected mortar blast in Bishnupur, bringing a deeply emotional chapter to a close amid continuing tensions in the state.

Relatives gathered at the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal in the morning to take custody of the remains. The last rites are expected to be performed later in the day.

Scenes of grief unfolded at the mortuary premises as family members broke down while receiving the bodies, with women consoling one another in visible distress.

The bodies had remained unclaimed for 25 days as families, along with Joint Action Committees (JACs), held prolonged discussions with the state government, demanding justice, accountability, and stronger security measures.

The April 7 blast in Bishnupur claimed the lives of the two infants and left their mother injured, sparking widespread outrage across Manipur.

Tensions escalated in the aftermath, with three protesters killed near a CRPF camp when security forces opened fire to disperse a crowd, further aggravating the volatile situation. The incident triggered protests, road blockades, curfews, and suspension of internet services in several parts of the state.

Given the seriousness of the case, the investigation was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). State Home Minister K. Govindas said five persons have been arrested so far, while combing operations continue.

Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh had repeatedly appealed to the families and JACs to accept the bodies and cooperate in restoring normalcy.

The incident has intensified concerns over safety and law and order in the region, highlighting the continuing fragility of the situation in Manipur.