Imphal, October 30 2009: A hand grenade was recovered from the Irom Meijrao Maning Leikai residence of Lairenjam Meijrao Gram Panchayat Pradhan Sougrakpam Manihar late last night.

a team of Wangoi police station arrived at the spot and took away the explosive item.

Speaking to newspersons, S manihar speculated that the incident might be connected to monetary demand served by the armed outfit KCP city Meitei group.

Informing that the grenade was discovered at around 11 pm yesterday when his wife moved out of the room to relieve their son before going to bed, Manihar said on being informed Wangoi police personnel arrived and retrieved the bomb at around midnight.

He also disclosed that 15 pradhans under Wangoi CD Block had received monetary demands of Rs 50,000 each from the KCP City Meitei group.

With the armed outfit apparently unable to establish contact with other pradhans who have either switched off their respective mobile phones or changed new numbers, a KCP caller recently telephoned him to remind on the monetary demands after which he too decided not to receive any call on his cell phone, Manihar conveyed.

As Manihar's mobile phone was subsequently handed over for use by his younger brother, the KCP group continued to give calls to which the younger sibling had been responding that it is no more the Pradhan's number.

Even then, the KCP persisted with their demands and contact the same number (younger brother) this morning with a stern reminder that the call is a last warning to concede to the monetary demand, said Manihar.

Informing that development funds sanctioned to the panchayats have been utilised in a proper manner, he iterated that if there is any suspicion with regard to the fund utilisation the local bodies cordially welcome verification from all concerned.

In denunciation against the act of planting bomb, a large number of local people staged protest demonstration at near Irom Meijrao Pukhri Achouba today.