Another blast in Ukhrul leaves five injured
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, April 03 2023:
Just over a week after the mini-secretariat complex in Ukhrul town suffered an explosion, another powerful blast tore through the heart of Ukhrul town on Monday evening, injuring five people, with one left in a critical condition.
Sources said that a loud explosion occurred at 6:25 pm near the entrance of Viewland Baptist Church, and injured five people including two non-local cart pullers, who happened to pass the road with a goods laden cart at that moment.
All the victims were immediately evacuated to Ukhrul district hospital and one of them was stated to be in a critical condition, sources said.
Soon after the incident, a team of Ukhrul police rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.
The explosion left a crater on the road surface.
According to police, all the injured five people are non-locals and have been identified as Mangal Mahato (55), Sanjai Kumar Prasad (30), Satnarayan Gupta (36), all from Bihar, Sanjay Uprety (27) from Charhajare and Arjundhan (26) from Leimakhong.
This is the third incident of bomb blast in the township in a span of three months this year.
The first was reported on January 25, when a bomb, suspected to be a hand grenade, exploded at Gandhi Chowk, Phungreitang, leaving four people injured.
Then, another explosion was reported on March 21 inside the mini-secretariat complex, which police said was lobbed from outside.
Meanwhile, there have been two incidents of bomb scare in the town this year, with the first reported on February 7 near the 6th MR campus and the second on March 20 when a bomb (500 gm TNT with remote device) was found planted in front of the PHED office, Phungreitang.
As per police sources, out of the five daily wagers who were passing the place at the time of the explosion and suffered injuries, Mangai Mahato is likely to be referred to Imphal for further treatment.
Soon after the incident, Ukhrul police rushed to the site and investigation is underway.
So far, no individuals or organisation have clarified responsibility behind the incident.