IED blast kills labourer, injures four; sit-in staged
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, May 30 2022:
An improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded at a temporary accommodation of labourers at Khongjom Sapam Mayai Leikai community hall under the jurisdiction of Khongjom Police Station on Monday around 1.14 am claimed the life of a non- Manipuri labourer and left four others injured.
The tin roof, walls and vehicles parked inside the community hall were also damaged by impact of the blast.
The deceased labourer has been identified as Pankaj Mahato (21), son of Nirmal Mahato of Khariatabad, West Bengal and the injured quartet as Aroop Man dal (30), son of Balram Mandal, Souvik Patra (18), son of Babloo Patra and Aporva Mandal (25), son of Samapado Mandal, all from South 24 Parganas district and Rajesh Ramaanik (19), son of Krishno Ramanik from West Bengal.
The non-local labourers are among the group of workers engaged by Koya and Construction Limited, Hyderabad in the construction of Water Supply Scheme tanks of Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Manipur in various areas of Thoubal district including Lamding, Uchiwa, Sangaiyumpham and Wangbal.
In receipt of information of the blast, a team of Thoubal police led by SP Jogeshchandra Haobijam rushed to the spot and inspected the incident site.
Teams of Mobile Forensic Unit, Forensic Science Laboratory Manipur and Bomb Disposal Unit also came and confirmed it to be a 'powerful' IED.
A case has been registered at Khongjom police station in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, locals staged sit-in protests at Sapam Mayai Leikai Keithel and Mamang Leikai wait ing shed in denunciation of the IED attack that killed a labourer and injured four others.
Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, one Sapam (o) Renuka denounced the bomb attack and said targeting the labourers who came to the state in search of work is unfortunate.
Those who planted the bomb in the residential area should clarify at the earliest, she demanded, while appealing against repeat such acts in future.