Imphal, December 17: Claiming responsibility for planting the bomb at Pourabi yesterday evening, the proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has expressed its regret and asked forgiveness of the people.

The outfit, however, maintained that it was the 'enemy' who set off the bomb just as the ill-fated passenger bus was approaching the site.

In a statement, assistant secretary of communication and publicity of the outfit Lily Leima said the bomb which led to the unfortunate incident was planted by members of its armed wing PLA.

For over two days, many vehicles crossed the site and it remained totally safe.

But in the morning of the day of the blast, the enemy had arrested two persons working for the outfit and managed to identify the spot where the bomb had been planted.

Instead of removing the bomb, the 'enemy' made it to trigger when the ill-fated passenger bus crossed the spot.

For this unfortunate incident, RPF is remorseful, the statement said.

Recalling an earlier incident of similar nature, Lily Leima said that in 2002, an AR troop came to know about a bomb trap laid along the Ukhrul road after it was detected by a dog.

Inspite of knowing it, the AR troop made the inter-district buses and private cars to drive over the same spot or stationed them nearby.

The intention of the AR was more than evident.

It was to cause casualty among innocent people and put blame on the outfit.

Knowing this, the bomb was exploded after one of the vehicles left the spot keeping a gap of 50 ft in range from the next vehicle.

This is how the enemies have been using the innocent people of the State as human shields, Lily Leima said, adding that in similar way reports of bombs being laid by enemies and then blaming the revolutionary outfits for the same have been flashed in the newspapers earlier.

Extending revolutionary salute to all those who lost their lives in the Pourabi blast, Lily Leima said that RPF and its armed wing PLA pay homage due to every 'Athouba-Athoubi'.

RPF also shared in the grief of the bereaved family members as well as in the suffering of the injured who are undergoing treatment and all those who have been affected, Lily Leima said while accepting the mistake committed and asking forgiveness of the people in connection with 'the unfortunate incident that has been caused by the enemy by taking advantage of the bomb laid by PLA'.