The deceased commander has been identified as Khaidem Muhi Singh, 50, s/o Omar of Sugunu Bazar, riflemen no. 9648.
According to a on the spot report, the attack happened as the engineer after returning from work was relaxing inside his house and the escort personnel were on guard duty outside. The grenade attack injured three of the escort personnel including the havildar (escort commander) who succumbed to his injuries on the way to JNIMS.
The other two injured personnel are identified as Moirangthem Ingocha, 45, s/o M Tomba of Tentha Khunou rifleman no. 09941042 and Mutum Guno, 36, s/o Mutum Gourahari of Kongba Khunou. All three escort personnel are identified to be from the 7th Battalion Manipur Rifles.
The casualties of the bomb attack also caused injury to two carpenters who were presently working at the adjoining room next to the security guard barracks at the engineer’s residence. They have been identified as Md Shah Jahan, 22, s/o (late) Bashir Ahmad of Thoubal Khekman and Md Amusana, 25, s/o Jametur of Hatta Mana engkhol.Altogether four carpenters were working at the room and 2 had gone out just the moment before the blast.
The engineer, while talking to mediapersons in the aftermath of the bomb attack maintained that this was the fourth instance of bomb attack at his private residence and also the first to have any human casualties.
Ranabir also stated that he has received numerous threats and pressures from various valley based UG outfit regarding percentage cuts from government funds and contract works, however being a government servant and bound by strict instructions, he did not oblige the demands.
He further postulated that a certain UG outfit identifying themselves as KCP (Noyon) had recently threatened him and a fellow official of the IFCD department. He condemned the act as barbaric and unreasonable.
Meanwhile the injured personnel and the two carpenters have been presently put under medical observation at JNIMS.
Sources said that 2 motocycle borne youths hurling the grenade was seen by nearby shopkeepers, after the incident they fled from the spot. Afterwards, the explosion rocked the nearby area and sound of gunshots could also be heard. The sentry also fired several rounds. Many empty cartridges of AK 47 and 9mm pistol were recovered by police from the spot. The shopkeepers of the adjoining Singjamei supermarket closed down shops in panic.
