Police taking inspecting the blast site near RIMS gate on November 16. (NNN Photo)
.jpg)
Newmai News Network
Imphal | November 16
A couple was injured when a bomb exploded at the gate of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Monday.
The bomb suspected to be an IED went off near the wall of a police picket on the northern side of the RIMS gate which is close to the official quarter of the superintendent of the hospital in the morning, around 9.35 am.
The injured persons have been identified as Papao Guite (42) and his wife Hoipi (40) from S Molnom village of Kangpokpi district. Both of them sustained splinter injuries on their hands and legs. They were immediately admitted at RIMS.
The couple reportedly came to visit their ailing mother being hospitalised at RIMS. They were hurt when the IED went off no sooner the couple alighted from an auto-rickshaw.
Soon after the blast, police personnel including top police officials rushed to the spot and conducted a spot inquiry. Personnel of the state police bomb detection and disposal squad and forensic experts of the police conducted the spot inquiry at the blast site. They suspect the explosive to be a low intensity IED planted by militants.
Police DIG Themthing Ngashangva who was among the top officials of the state police who visited the blast site expressed strong concern over the triggering of the explosive at the crowded area. "This is an act of cowardice. Everybody should condemn such an act near a hospital where people come for treatments amid COVID-19,” he said. The police officer also said that the incident took place while most of the police personnel on duty were focusing enforcement of COVID-19 SOPs in markets in view of the Ningol-Chakouba festival. “Police did not expect the triggering of a bomb in such a sensitive area. Triggering explosives in such a sensitive area is highly condemnable,” the officer said.
The police officer then assured that the perpetrator(s) behind the blast will be arrested soon. “I am sure we will get them soon", he said.
He then alleged that the explosion was in fact to hurt innocent people and not any other like security personnel or police.
Meanwhile, none of the militant groups operating in the state has owned up the blast till the time of filing of this report.
