IMPHAL, January 5: Grenade attacks at the residences of Congress offices and MLAs as well as candidates and workers of the party continued unabated as at least three bombs were hurled at the residential areas of Congress candidates and workers today.
In the first incident today, unidentified person suspected to be militants lobbed a hand-grenade at the residence of businessman Taorem Dipak, 41 s/o Thambal of Yumnam Leikai Nakrabam Leirak this morning around 5.30am. The bomb exploded however there were no reports of human casualties. Dipak is stated to be a Congress worker.
The bomb which was suspected to be hurled from outside Dipak’s residential wall exploded in the courtyard.
In connection with the bomb attack, residents of the area staged a sit-in-protest today and denounced the bomb attack at the residence of the local businessman.
In the meantime, another hand-grenade was also hurled at the residence of Sapam Ranjan located at Konthoujam. Ranjan is aspiring to be a Congress candidate in the upcoming 10th Manipur legislative assembly election and is the son of (late) Sapam Budhichandra, ex-Speaker of the Manipur legislative assembly.
The bomb exploded near the residential gate of Ranjan but there were human casualties.
In yet another bomb blast today, one IED was found planted near the Old Checkon bazar along Porompat DC road where there used to be a Congress office which has been shifted to another place.
According to police source, the IED was found planted on a small tree near the Old Checkon bazar just opposite to the rows of wooden shops.
As police suspect the bomb to be remotely controlled one, a special bomb squad of the Manipur Police was called in. later after the arrival of the bomb squad, the bomb was safely exploded at the spot around 7.11pm after vacating civilians from the area.