Not due to lapses of Home dept, Chief Minister clarifies
IMPHAL, May 29: Atleast two persons were killed and 15 others injured when a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded this evening at a crowded mini market shed of Singajamei Chingamakhong right at the foothill of the 40th Assam Rifle occupied Chinga (hillock).
Sources said that the blast occured around 5.15 pm.
All the injured have been rushed to various hospitals in Imphal a majority of them at RIMS hospital.
With the conditions of the injured reported to be critical the death toll is expected to rise.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had also visited the injured at RIMS.
He was accompanied by PHE minister Hemochandra, Commerce and Industry minister Govindas Konthoujam, IFC minister Ngamthang Haokip, DGP Manipur and other top police brass.
Soon after the blast, a team of Imphal police led by Clay Khongsai IG Law and Order, I K Muivah DIG Range I, Dr Ak Jhalajit Superintendent of Police Imphal west and other police officer of Imphal west district rushed to the blast site and inspected the area.
Singjamei MLA, I Hemochandra and Govindas Konthoujam minister Commerce and Industry also visited the blast site.
Hemochandra strongly condemned the attack terming it an act of cowardice.
The deceased have been identified as one Syamsankar Rai, 31, son of (L)) Ram Shinha Rai and Arvind Rai, son of Chakaldip Rai, 20 both hailing from Mujafarpur district, Bihar.
Out of the 15 injured persons 8 persons were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, the injured persons have been identified as Bolendra Roy, 32, son of Guni Roy, Sanjoy Roy son of Jayenta Roy, Arun Mate, 38, son of Bangali Mate and Papu Shah 25 son of Gula Saha all hailing from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur.
Others who are admitted in the RIMS hospital include Meisnam Manisana, 55, wife of Bono of Singjamei Chingamathak Meisnam Leikai, Chanam Bimol, 27, son of Iboyai of Ngairangbam Awang Maning Leikai, Thounaojam Shyamkanhai, 51, son of (L) Babu of Singjamei Chingamathak and Thongram Bimol, 57, son of (L) Shamu of Singjamei Waikhom Leirak.
Five other injured were admitted at the Advance Hospital, two other at the Iboyaima Hospital and two other at the JNIMS.
Their identities could not be ascertained however, till the filling of this report.
Speaking to media persons at the hospital, the Chief Minister termed the attack as an act of coward that should be condemned by one and all at the strongest term.
“The government will not spare the perpetrators and have alerted all the police stations”, asserted the Chief Minister.
When queried whether the attack could possibly be targeted at the non-locals, the Chief Minister did not ruled out the possibility and cited that the area is often crowded with non-locals.
However, he did not draw a conclusion to the theory and rather added that the motive could be ascertained only after proper investigation and apprehension of the perpetrators involved.
At the same time, the Chief Minister clarified that incident cannot be construed due to lapses of the home department adding that the Government cannot give security for everyone.
Yet, the government has been trying their best to prevent such incident in areas especially where AFSPA has been lifted.