2 killed, 4 hurt in Moirangkhom blast
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 30 2013: A day after the bomb blast near Marwari Dharmashala at Thangal Bazar area here that left five people injured, a powerful bomb that ripped through a bus waiting shed located near the historic Hicham Yaichampat at Moirangkhom just opposite to Krishna Premi Oil Pump killed two people and left five others seriously wounded.

Hicham Yaichampat is where the mortal remains of Yubaraj Tikendrajit, the Hero of Manipur who stood firm against British colonialist power had been laid to rest after he was hanged to death on August 13, 1891 on alleged charge of waging war against Queen Empress after the last Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891 .

The site of the blast is also within one kilometer parameter to the south of the official residence of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Manipur police headquarters.

The area is used by Imphal-Moreh Maruti van service as parking.

2 killed, 4 hurt in Moirangkhom blast

The bomb, which the police believed to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) with timer planted by armed militants late last night, went off at around 6.25 am killing one person on the spot and injuring six others.

One of the injured later succumbed at the hospital.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The two deceased victims have been identified as Leishungbam Brojen (35) s/o L Siton of Andro but staying at Palace Compound and Philip Hollung Tonthang (40) s/o Tongkhothang of Bijang village, Churachandpur but staying at Langol Games Village.

Both were Maruti Van drivers operating passenger service along Imphal- Moreh Road.

At the time of the blast they were waiting for passengers.

The injured victims have also been identified as Laishram Rajen (48) s/o L Jatra of Singjamei Makha Naorem Leikai, Wairokpam Obediya (28) s/o late W Bijoy of Thiounaojam Mayai Leikai; Samom Naoba (30), s/o S Shyamkanhai of Yaiskul Janmasthan, Robert Baite (31), s/o Jangkhulun of Churachandpur but staying at Palace Compound and Suyang Paite (60) s/o late Chamkuthang Paite of Mored Ward no..1Among the injured, Obediya is a Van drivers; Naoba is a milkman while Suyang and Robert are passengers waiting for vehicles for going on a trip to Moreh.

All the injured were first rushed to RIMS hospital at Lamphelpat for treatment.

However, as no senior doctors could be seen in the casualty ward, people who brought the injured expressed dissatisfaction to the hospital authority and some of them were later shifted to Shija Hospital and Research Centre at Langol.

The rear and side glasses of a cream-coloured Maruti Van bearing registration no.MN01X/ 5102 were shattered in the blast which created a one and half feet deep and 3 feet wide crater.

A milk booth located nearby also suffered severe damage in the blast.

The tin-roofed of the waiting shed also suffered the impact of the blast.

Soon after the report of the blast spread, senior police officials including IGP Clay Khongsai, SP Jayenta, SP Angam Kamei and ADGP rushed in and blocked the exit points to launch a massive search operation.

But no arrest could be made.

DGP MK Das is said to be presently at New Delhi to attend a meeting.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also in charge of Home, has strongly condemned the incident.

Talking to mediapersons while coming to take stock of the situation, Gaikhangam denounced the attack as an act of the the most cowardice form.