IMPHAL, August 17: Three persons including a personnel of a private security agency received minor injuries as a powerful remote controlled Improvised Explosive Device exploded at `Route 39`, a restaurant at Mantripukhri along the National Highway 2 at around 6:40 this late evening.
The IED was left on the first floor of the restaurant, by an unknown person who came inside as a customer and left without ordering anything, said a personnel of a private security agency at the restuarant.
Glass walls of the restaurant, plastic roof covers, tables, chairs, flower beds and stairs were partly damaged in the explosion.
The restaurant owner is identified as Th Rishikanta of Utlou who is identified as a brother in law of Okram Henry, the nephew of state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
The three who received minor injuries are identified as private security Md Sarifkhan (18), son of Abdulshamat of Lilong Turel Ahanbi who was injured on the left side of his face; Bhupen, a waiter of the restaurant was injured on his left hand and Md Sakir, (17), son of Habibula of Lilong, a salesperson of the Yokohama electronic shop located next to the ground floor of the Restaurant.
Soon after the blast, a large number of police personnel of Imphal East rushed to the restaurant and inspected the blast site.
L Kailun, Inpector General Law and order and Angam Kamei Romannus Superintendent of Police Imphal East also came to inspect the area.
The CCTV camera installed in the entrance and the other parts of the restaurant were also surveyed by the team of Police.
O Henry who is the owner of the building in which the restaurant is located also arrived at the spot.
Speaking to the media, private security Md Sarifkhan said that today at around 6:30 pm one unidentified person come who had come on an unregistered FZ Yamaha Motorcycle to the restaurant holding a black polybag left the bag at the restaurant next to the staircase and hurried away from the location.
He said he suspected the unidentified motorcycle borne youth to have triggered off the blast.
He said even though each and every customer is thoroughly checked, the customers were let through without checking today.
He also stated that every Friday night and Saturday night, the Restaurant used to host party from 6pm to 10 pm but today, there was no party and as such the customers were let inside without any checking.