False bomb alarm
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 21 2013:
Panic gripped Imphal East district localities of Nongmeibung and Old Checkon this morning after a Honda Pleasure scooter remained unclaimed for hours on the roadside.
However, the fear subsided after police and army bomb squads, on opening the scooter's utility box, confirmed there was no explosive item inside.
The drama unfolded from around 9.30 am with some onlookers spotting a lady walk into an unregistered Maruti Van and driving away after leaving her scooter opposite Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School.
Amid heightened security measures for the much-hyped Manipur Sangai Festival, locals apprehensive of worst-case scenario in case of bomb explosion reportedly informed the police who arrived there followed minutes later by bomb experts of the police and Tulihal Airport-based 18 Sikh Regiment to the site with sniffer dog.
A bomb expert with protective gear first pulled down the red-colour scooter (MN06/SA 2784) and then used a crowbar to pierce open the utility box.
To the relief of the onlookers there was no bomb fitted inside the scooter which was towed away to Imphal East police station.
The route where the scooter was left was supposed to be traversed by the Chief Minister and Myanmarese dignitaries on their way to JNIMS Hospital and Babina Diagnostics.
Prior to arrival of the bomb squads Imphal East district police cordoned off the area.
Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School students, who were heading for the school to appear in the ongoing examination scampered into the complex.