Planting of bomb decried
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 18 2016: All the shops, business establishments, schools and colleges remained shut today at Motbung bazar and Charhajare against planting of an IED along NH-2 (Imphal Dimapur road) at Motbung bazar, a few metres away from Presidency College gate last night.

People of different communities also conducted a sit-in-protest cum meeting at Motbung bazar in connection with the incident.

Village chiefs, students of various schools and colleges of Motbung and Charhajare also took part in the protest.

Motbung Women Union joint secretary Kimboi said the sit-in-protest cum meeting was held to protest placing of a powerful bomb at the crowded market area.

an IED along NH-2 (Imphal Dimapur road) at Motbung bazar

She said that the incident has created fear among the peace loving people of the area.

She said that the union wants to know from the group concerned why they had carried out such a senseless act which might take the life of many people.

Luckily, security forces could defuse the IED safely on time after some children came across it near Presidency College, Kimboi said.

Saying that many schools and colleges are located nearby, Kimboi said that the group concerned must come up with a clarification on the incident within three days.

She also urged them not to repeat such acts in future.

A student protester said that students staying in different hostels were terrified by the incident.

They could not sleep properly after hearing the news last night, he said.

The student also said that their parents are extremely worried about their safety.

He also appealed to all concerned to make education free from all forms of disturbance and let them study without any fear.

Motbung locals said that a blue coloured polythene bag was detected by some children at Motbung bazar at around 7 last night.

They initially thought that it was a packet of snacks.

However, when they looked at it closely and threw stone on it, they saw wires attached to the object wrapped with a black polythene bag inside the blue polythene bag.

Later, they informed the police and 25 Assam Rifles with the help of some elders.

Soon after their arrival, police and Assam Rifles personnel cordoned off the area and informed the State bomb experts.

A team of bomb experts discovered the suspicious object as a highly explosive bomb fitted with six TNTs along with battery and detonator.

After it was retrieved from the area, the bomb was separated into two parts and exploded at Thingset village near Motbung river late last night.

Gamnom Sapormeina police station has taken up a case regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Phungzathnag Tonsing, IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip and Saikul MLA Yamthong Haokip who happened to pass the protest site stopped there to met the protesters.

Interacting with the protesters, they strongly condemned the incident.