Dy Speaker escapes life bid
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 26: Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Thokchom Shyamkumar had a providential escape when a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) laid by unidentified persons exploded while he was on the way to his Itham Moirangpurel residence today leaving two of his escort personnel and a driver wounded.

The incident occurred at around 11.45 am.

The bomb was planted on a wooden bridge at a place known as Ngakhasi situated in between Oksu and Ningthemcha Khul under Lamlai Police Station.

After the bomb attack, the unidentified armed persons also fired at the escort party.

The damaged Gypsy which bore the impact of the bomb explosion, the damaged portion of the bridge and the remains of the bomb in the between Oksu and Ningthemcha Khul under Lamlai Police Station

According to information received by the press, after visiting Health Minister Ph Parijat at his Lamlai residence to pay Potyeng in connection with the wedding of the Minister's daughter, Deputy Speaker Thokchom Shyamkumar was heading towards his Itham Moirang Purel residence when the incident occurred.

Including his own vehicle and that of the escort party, they were coming together in five vehicles one after another.

The vehicle in which Shyamkumar was riding was in the middle with two escort vehicles in front and two behind.

Soon after the fourth vehicle crossed the bridge, the fifth and the last vehicle was approaching the bridge when the bomb which was already fitted there blew up along with a loud explosion.

The full impact of the explosion was borne by the last vehicle, a Gypsy bearing registration no.MN1K/1700, which flew up in the air before it crashed headlong on the road side.

The vehicle has been substantially damaged.

The escort personnel who sustained injuries in the incident have been identified as Havilder of Ist IRB Karotlung (56) s/o late Khulanang of Jalukie, Nagaland and Rifleman Telen Shyam Kom (35) s/o Sundar Kom of Sugnu while the wounded driver as Md Wajiruddin (24) s/o Fajiruddin of Lilong Haoreibi.

He is said to be working as a driver appointed on contract basis in Assembly Secretariat.

All the injured were brought to JN Hospital for treatment.

Havilder Karotluing and driver Wajiruddin sustained injuries on their faces while Rifleman Shyam Kom below his chin.

According to hospital sources, all three of them are out of danger.

Along with triggering the blast, the unidentified armed persons also fired at the escort party from atop the nearby hill.

The escort party also retaliated and an.

exchange of fire lasted for about 10 minutes.

However, there is no report of any further casualty.

At the time of the explosion, personnel of 115 Bn BSF belonging to its A-company post were on ROP duty near Laikoiching, about 2 kms from the site of the incident.

The ROP team and the escort party of the Deputy Speaker have come from the same direction.

But, the team of the Deputy Speaker went ahead of the ROP team.

At the time of the explosion, the ROP team was till far away from the site.

However, on hearing the sound of the explosion, the BSF personnel took position although they did not join in retaliating the attack of the unidentified armed persons.

Soon after receiving the report of the attack, a reinforcement of Police Commandos rushed in and conducted a massive search operation in the areas.

Though no one was arrested, the search led to the recovery of a long wire which must have been fitted to the bomb and used for triggering the blast extending upto the cliff nearby and the site where the armed attackers have taken position for the attack.

The bomb exploded is said to an improvised explosive device (IED) prepared in the shape of a Korphu (large pot for cooking rice).

Following the blast, the bridge was completely damaged.

Many vehicles coming from both sides remained stranded until reparation of the route by piling up earth by the passengers of the vehicles.

The work was completion at around 2.30 pm and vehicles plied like normal again.

No underground organisation has claimed the responsibility for the attack till the filing of the this report.

It may be recalled that unidentified armed persons had also exploded a bomb on the route of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and his escort party few days earlier.