Imphal, December 18: After the proscribed RPF/PLA accused the security forces of setting off the bomb at a spot between Pourabi and Huidrom on December 16 which claimed eight lives besides injuring more than 20 even though it owned responsibility for planting the bomb there, DGP Joykumar has denied security forces triggering the blast.

The outfit had maintained that the bomb was set off by security forces after they learnt of it following arrest of two PLA activists in the morning of the fateful day.

However, the DGP denied arresting any PLA cadre on the day.

Briefing media persons today, the DGP conveyed that to his question if there was arrest of any PLA cadre on the day, both the IG AR (South) and the GOC 57 Mountain Division replied in the negative.

Reacting to the RPF's statement that the bomb was planted two days ahead, the DGP questioned as to why the outfit did not set it off during all those long hours.

Informing that police have picked up three local youths who reportedly saw some suspicious persons loitering around the blast site three hours before the incident, Joykumar said that the police have been able to gather some clues about the identities of the suspects from the local youths.

Earlier the DGP had said that the best efforts would be put forward to book the culprits.