According to police sources, the blast took place at the rented house owned by Okram Hemant, 24, son of (late) Lokendro of Pangei Okram Leikai and currently occupied by one retired Jemadar of 8th Manipur Rifles, namely Pebam Jilla, 70, of Nambol Khabi Leikai.
The deceased girl is identified as Bebinao. She is the daughter of Pebam Jilla’s second wife Memcha who hails from Phungyar in Ukhrul district. The other injured persons are all family members of Jilla and included Bebinao’s mother Memcha, Jilla’s first wife’s daughter Memi and her three children namely Anjali, Kriti and Tracy and.
Kriti and Tracy are said to be in critical condition.
Family members stated that the explosion took place suddenly with a loud bang. Body parts of the deceased Bebinao were found scattered all around. They said they did not have any idea how the blast took place in their house.
On hearing the news of the blast, Imphal east Additional SP Dr Ak Jhaljit rushed to the spot immediately. The bomb squad also investigated the blast site. It was found that the victims were probably affected by the thrust of the explosives rather than by the splinters.
The police also recovered some dry cells and one table clock having a timer mechanism from the spot.
Further according to police, the explosive device could have been RDX and that the explosion could have been triggered when the girl victim found it and picked it up.
Meanwhile, Jilla’s son from his second wife Khundulung has also been picked up by the police for interrogation. The dead body of Bebinao has been deposited at JNIMS mortuary for post-mortem.
Women Action for Development in a release has strongly condemned the bomb blast which killed one minor girl and injured five others.
The rented house belong to one Okram heman, 28 son of (late) Lokendro from Pangei Okram Leikai.