IED blast in Imphal injures 6, including 5 cops

Manipur CM Biren Singh inspecting the blast site on November 5. (NNN Photo)

Mnaipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemns blast
 

Newmai News Network 
Imphal | November 5

A powerful blast triggered in the high security zone in Imphal on Tuesday morning, hurt six persons – five police personnel, including an Additional SP and a civilian.

Tuesday’s blast occurred barely three days after a blast in a locality in Imphal that inflicted splinter injuries to at least three BSF personnel.

The IED was triggered on the roadside at Thangal Bazar around 9.10 am while police were alerting people nearby the area after an object suspected to be a bomb was found lying amidst the solid waste piled up on the roadside.

A police officer said that if no alert was sounded by the police, a good number of civilians could have been the victims of the blast as the powerful IED was triggered at a crowded area.

The blast was triggered while the police were reportedly awaiting the arrival of personnel of the state police bomb detection and disposal squad.

Among the injured police personnel was Lamabam Amarjit, Additional SP (Operation) Imphal West district. The other personnel were sub-inspector Thongam Devan, ASI Ningthoujam Ibotomba Singh, ASI Khuraijam Boney, Huirongbam Boboy (escort personnel of the additional SP), while the injured civilian has been identified as Krishna Gurung of Pangei Nepali Basti, Imphal East district.

All the injured persons were rushed to Raj Medicity hospital in Imphal. Among them,the condition of ASI Ibotomba who sustained multiple splinter injuries was stated to be critical. He has been admitted at ICU ward of the hospital.

Two two-wheelers which were parked near the blast site were damaged by the impact of the blast. The impact of the explosion also damaged nearby shops and houses.

Soon after blast took place, police commandos conducted a massive search operation in and around the blast site.
They detained a good number of people and conducted verification. A total of 28 persons who were unable to produce any document to establish their identities were picked up and handed over to the city police for further verification.

State chief minister, N Biren Singh who is also holding the charge of Home portfolio visited the blast site and took stock of the situation along with top officials of the state police including DGP LM Khoute.

Talking to reporters at the blast site, Biren Singh strongly condemned the incident. The chief minister termed it as an act of cowardice.

Biren Singh then said that the government has taken up many steps to thwart such incidents in future. Police will further intensify frisking operation, he added. “I request to the general public to bear the inconveniences," he appealed. He was referring to the frisking operation.

Later, the chief minister visited the injured persons at Raj Medicity hospital.

Manipur police announces Rs 1 lakh reward for arrest of culprit(s) behind blasts in Imphal 

Newmai News Network
Imphal  | November 5

Manipur government on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh to any individual who provides information leading to the identification and arrest of culprit(s) involved in the two blasts in Imphal.

Mention may be made that IEDs were triggered two times in less than a week in Imphal area. The first blast occurred at Telipati (Khurai Ahongei) on Saturday (November 2) night and the second one on Tuesday, November 5, at Thangal Bazar.

Announcing the cash reward, a press release of the state police PRO stated that, the Police department has lodged two separate FIR in connection with the two blasts. Both the blasts took place in highly crowded areas, the press release stated.

“A case reward of Rs 1,00,000 only is hereby announced to be given to any individual who may provide information leading to the identification and arrest of the culprit(s) involved in the incidents, the police PRO press release said.