IMPHAL, November 26: Another powerful IED exploded early morning today near Kiyamba Ningsing Shanglen along the Tiddim Road in Bishnupur district.
Sources said that the bomb was planted at a road side apparently targeting a patrol team of 6/8 GR Khwairakpan post. However the IED failed to inflict any human casualty as the bomb reportedly went off prematurely at around 6.30 am.
The explosion dug a crater measuring one and half feet in diameter and half feet deep. Soon after the blast a combined team of 6/8 GR, police commandos and Bishnupur district police rushed to the spot and cordoned the area.
A search operation was also conducted in and around the area and arrested a lady who was moving suspiciously near the DC Office crossing, about 200 metres from the blast site.
During preliminary interrogation she was identified as a cadre of RPF/PLA, Narengbam Biromala Sinha alias Aingbi alias Konika, 25, daughter of Ng Birmangol of Bhanu Ghas village, under Mulbi Police station, Mangalpur district, Bangladesh. For the past one year she stationed at Kunjamani Handloom as a trainee for wool knitting (Kumar and Sons House, Palace compound opposite Angom Leikai Leirak, Imphal).
She was recruited under one Captain Moramba and received basic military training in the year 2007.
A mobile handset, four different ID cards, debris items of blast and explosive materials were recovered from her possession. She was reportedly commanded to trigger the blast between 5:30 to 6:30 am.
The attack was carried out under the indirect command of Thongnam Ibemcha Devi alias Prabhabati alias Shelly, 46, daughter of Th Jatra Singh of Kwakeithel Thounoujam Leikai, a self-styled Lieutenant of RPF/PLA army number 136. It has been informed that Prabhabati was earlier arrested in the 2001 by the Singjamei Police.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure the police concerned also conducted a thorough checking of vehicles parked at Bishnupur bazaar.