IMPHAL, January 4: A live lethod shell placed by unidentified persons was found at the premises of Director, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) Dr Laishram Deben at Kakwa Ashem Leikai this morning around 8.
On receiving information about it, a team of bomb experts of police arrived and retrieved the lethod shell safely.
Talking to this daily in connection with the incident, Dr Deben said that he has been coming up with various development plans for the hospital ever since he took the Director charge from the last five months. He also said that no underground organization has ever contacted him so far.
Meanwhile, the armed Maoist Communist Party, Manipur has claimed responsibility for the lethod bomb placed at the premises of the Director.
According to a statement signed by Comrade Nonglen Meitei, Secretary Publicity & Propaganda, Maoist Community Party, Manipur, the bomb attack was carried out by special Red Guards of the outfit.
It pointed out that JNIMS has been filled with corruption and nepotism, reducing the hospital to a mere hospital with absence of responsible officials who can look after the hospital and its patients carefully.
Corruption and favouritism are the hallmarks of JNIMS whenever there is recruitment of staff for the hospital. It will be right to say that RIMS and JNIMS, the two main hospitals of the State have become favourite centres for contractors whose intention is to fetch large amount of money in the name of ensuring infrastructures, the statement said.
Saying that the public are well aware whether there is proper treatment at the hospital or not, it clarified that the outfit has not caused hindrance to developmental works of the hospital in any way prior to the bomb threat against the Director.
If the Director does not accept his wrongdoings and try to rectify it for the sake of the hospital then similar attack against him may take place anytime, the outfit cautioned.
The outfit in the statement further clarified that the bomb attack on Dr Deben has got no connection with Elite Higher Secondary School which shares same compound with the Director’s residence.