IMPHAL, January 25: Four IED explosions rocked the state capital even as security forces have been taking up several measures to thwart any violent incidents in the run up to and during the 64th Republic Day celebration in the state. There were however, no casualties during the explosions.
The first of the four explosions occurred inside the 1st Manipur Rifles complex early in the morning. The parade ground is incidentally, the gathering point for the march past contingents of the state Republic Day celebration.
The explosion occurred at 7:27am near a pond behind the parade ground inside the 1st Manipur Rifles battalion.
Soon after receiving information about the explosion, several high ranking police officials including IG (L/O) L Kailun arrived at the spot to take stock of the situation.
Following the explosion, both gates at the Kalimai Mandir side and the Laininghtou Sanamahi Tempe side were locked and no one was allowed to exit or enter the complex.
Even reporters who had rushed to cover the explosion were denied entry to the explosion site.
Security arrangement in the state capital were beefed up and checking of commuters were conducted at almost all corners and roads of Imphal.
Extra raffic police personnel were brought in to make all vehicles plying along the NH 2 (Babupara main road) stretch in front of the Imphal Police Station, Secretariat to pass without stopping.
But even as security arrangements were being tightened in the state capital, two more explosions took place within a span of just 25 minutes in Imphal.
A bomb exploded at a garbage dump along the Nambul river bank near the Keishamthong (bridge) this morning at 10:15am. The exact spot is about 100 meter from the Keishamthong (bridge) towards Longjam Leirak.
The third explosion of the day occurred at 10:40am at the roadside of the Palace Compound Traffic Island in front of the Raja Dumbra High School under Porompat Police station. There was no casualty from the explosion.
Soon after receiving information about the blast, Imphal East SP, K Angam Romanus rushed to the spot to inspect the area.
Another powerful IED blast took place around 8.05 pm by the road side along the National Highway Number 2 near the gate of the Manitripukri Tasar Farm under Heigang Police Station Imphal West.
There are no reports of any human casualty in the blast though its impact left a crater around 2 to four feet in radius.
It may be mentioned that the 64th Republic Day has been boycotted and called a general strike by CorCom, URF, KCP (MC) and other armed groups of the North East region.
Meanwhile, the Dy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio condemned the blast inside the MR complex and said it was `unfortunate`.
He was speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the closing function of the 2nd State level Tribal Cultural festival at the Tribal Research Institute Complex today.
