Imphal, December 01 2009: An improvised explosive device (IED) was found planted inside the campus of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Lamphelpat here today.

Quick Response Team of the Police detected the IED which was found inside the western gate of RIMS facing the road leading to the office of Imphal West Deputy Commissioner at around 3.30 am today.

Placed inside an empty milk can, the IED weighing around one and half kilogram was fitted to a flexible wire of about 50 feet long which was extended outside the campus, according to information received from the police.

Explosive experts of the State Police removed the IED at around 6.53 am and detonated the same safely at Langol area.

The spot where the IED was found is said to be route where the Director and the Medical Superintendent of RIMS normally use for morning walk.

Police suspect that the IED may have been placed mainly to target Medical Superintendent Dr Y Mohen.

Meanwhile, Teachers & Medical Officers' Association, Association of Junior Doctors, RIMS Nurses Association and Non-Teaching Welfare Association of RIMS have expressed deep anguish and strong condemnation over the plantation of a bomb inside the RIMS campus today.

In a joint statement, the four associations said that such disruptive activities inside the Hospital campus where sick and suffering people are taken care of do not justify any human code of conduct.

We stand for peace and tranquillity in and around the hospital premises and do earnestly appeal to all concerned to refrain from such activities in the future, the joint statement pleaded.

It may be recalled that in the morning of May 16 this year too, unidentified armed persons exploded a hand grenade near the northern side campus wall of RIMS.

Over and above this, there have been instances of retrieving two hand grenades were found in the official quarters of Dr Mohan in the morning of July 5 last year and the blast triggered by unidentified armed persons at a spot in between Administrative Block and Pathology Department of the institute on the night of May 25 last year.