IMPHAL, January 9: Two IED explosions had partially damaged the Irawat community hall at Chalou village under Lamlai police station this early morning, while another three unexploded IEDs and a gas cylinder were recovered from the nearby area.
Villagers informed media persons that they had heard two explosions at around 1:30am today. Following the sounds of explosion, villagers came out to check and found the community hall partially damaged due to the explosions.
A villager further informed that the villagers conducted a deliberate search of the area continuing till this early morning and recovered three unexploded IEDs, a plastic jerkin and a gas cylinder covered with straw.
They further expressed that the three unexploded IEDs and the gas cylinder point towards a motive to completely destroy the hall. They further added that soon after the recovery of the IEDs, they informed the Lamlai police, who arrived soon after in the morning today.
The police bomb squad arrived at the scene at around 9am and recovered the three unexploded IEDs and disposed it off at a nearby safe place.
Meanwhile, the people of the area today appealed to the concerned party or individual to clarify on the motive behind the explosions.
Villagers expressed that the people of the area are peace-loving and further appealed the concerned not to disturb the peace of the area with such disastrous activities like planting of bombs.
Meanwhile, Congress faces no respite from grenade attacks as suspected CorCom cadres today lobbed five hand grenades at the residences of Congress workers.
In the first incident, suspected militant cadres lobbed a Chinese hand grenade this early morning at 6:30am at the residence of Waikhom Samachand, 43, s/o (late) Ibopishak of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai.
The bomb, which was later picked up by the Singjamei police had failed to explode.
In the second incident, two hand grenades were found from the courtyards of two neighbours who are reported to be active Congress workers.
The incident happened at Kakching Khunou village under Waikhong Police station.
The two hand grenades were found simultaneously from the residential courtyards of Hijam Chandramani Singh, 75 and Khumukcham Bokuljao, 45.
The grenades were safely removed by a team of Wabagai police later.
In the third incident, two unidentified persons who came riding a Honda Activa hurled a Chinese hand grenade at the residence of Laishram Padeswori Devi, Congress worker and a councillor of Nambol Sabal Leikai.
The incident happened this evening at around 7:15pm. The grenade however failed to explode.