IMPHAL, March 12: A powerful Improvised Explosive Device exploded this afternoon at an oil pump located strategically between two check-points of the Imphal East police, injuring an employee and shattering the window panes of the pump.
The IED exploded at the M/s Tusk and Bond Oil Pump, Hafiz Hatta around 6:50 pm.
The injured staff identified as Thingbaijam Thoi alias Jackson Singh, 24, son of (L) Th Kuber Singh of Pungdongbam Lai Manak Pungdongbam Mayai Leikai under Lamlai Police Station has been admitted at the Public Hospital which is adjacent to the pump.
He was hit by splinters on his right arm and is said to be out of danger.
The IED was planted near a wall inside an iron gate of the fuel unloading area.
Splinters also shattered the glass windows and damaged the wall of the proprietor’s office.
Soon after the explosion, a team of the Imphal East Police led by SP Angam Kamei Romanus arrived and inspected the site. The police have also taken up a case regarding the blast.
The petrol pump is located in between the police check-points at Minuthong and New Checkon traffic point.
Meanwhile, within minutes of the first blast, unidentified miscreants also lobbed a hand grenade at the Bhramapur Bheigyapati Leikai residence of an Independent candidate of the last State Assembly election Th Satyabarta, 42, son of Borchand.
Satyabarta was in a meeting with some locals numbering around a hundred, when the grenade exploded inside his compound; however, luckily no one was injured in the explosion. The incident site is also under the Porompat Police Station.
Speaking to this reporter, Satyabarta said he had not received any threat or monetary demand from any underground outfit.
Meanwhile, DSP commando, Imphal East L Deban arrived at the spot and inspected the blast site.
Our Bishnupur Correspondent adds: Two explosives including a hand grenade and a mortar, recovered while harvesting potatoes at the vegetable farm of Nongmaithem Tomba located at Nachou Awang Leikai under Bishnupur Police Station were safely detonated today around 3:35 pm.
Sources said Tomba informed the police after finding two suspicious objects while harvesting potatoes which turned out to be grenades this afternoon around 1.
A Bishnupur Police team led by OC B Rishikesh Sharma and accompanied by a team of the Manipur Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and retrieved a 36 H/E grenade and an H/E mortar.