Bomb blast rocks Imphal; 5 injured
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 18 2015: Three police personnel and two civilians were injured in a powerful bomb blast in the busy Masjid Road under City Police Station on Wednesday evening.

The injured policemen were identified as ASI Yumnam Sunil (30) and constable Md Tajuddin (31) of City PS and constable Salam Dineshwor (32) of Imphal West District Police Reserve Line.

ASI Sunil hails from Ishok Awang Leikai while Md Tajuddin is a resident of Heibung Makhong under Mayang Imphal PS.

Dineshwor whose condition is reported to be serious is a resident of Iroishemba Mamang Leikai.

On the other hand, the civilians hurt in the blast were identified as Kongbrailatpam (o) Pakpi, wife of Dijwamani of Khurai Puthiba Leikai and Khundrakpam (o) Homeshwori (45), wife of Ashok of Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai.

Both women are cloth vendors at Imoinu Keithel in Khwairamband Bazar and Pakpi is the secretary of the market committee.

Bomb blast rocks Imphal; 5 injured

According to information gathered from the spot, the black polythene bag containing the explosive was dropped by an unidentified middle-aged woman near bamboo baskets belonging to betel leaf traders plying their wares along the roadsides on the southern tip of Imoinu Keithel.

An eyewitness told reporters that immediately after the bag was spotted, there were shouts alerting the presence of a bomb.

Panic-stricken people started running helter-skelter to all directions from the area on hearing the warning of danger.

Meanwhile, police personnel on duty in the surrounding areas rushed to the spot.

The area was barricaded swiftly by the security personnel and prohibition imposed on entry of people.

Constable Dineshwar trying to confirm the content of the bag took a peep inside by cautiously lifting the top of the bag.

After the content of the bag was established as an explosive material the bewildered personnel were thinking of the next step.

Suddenly, the bomb exploded with a deafening sound and Dineshwar took the maximum impact.

According to police sources, the explosive appeared to be fitted with a two inch mortar and set off either by a remote control device or a timer.

Police found metal pieces which appeared to parts of a two inch mortar or shell of a rocket launcher.

Police have launched an investigation into the blast.

According to reliable sources, the Khwairamband Nupi Keithel and main commercial centres of Imphal will shut down business on Thursday to protest the bomb attack.