Imphal, July 06 2010: A bomb exploded in front of a private hospital in Imphal today afternoon, injuring to at least three pedestrians including a rickshaw even as bomb threat has created panic at New Market of the Khwairamband Bazar in the morning.

The bomb apparently targeted to the car of the proprietor of the Langol View Hospital parked in front of the hospital went off at the rear side of the vehicle at about 2.15 pm.

Apart from damaging the rear windshield of the car (MN01-K 6273), rear tyres were also deflated by the impact of the bomb.

Three pedestrians injured in the blast were immediately rushed to the RIMS Hospital.

One of the persons, coming on an Activa Honda, received serious injury in the face while the other suffered less injuries.

They were out of danger, hospital source said.

The rickshaw driver injured in the blast was identified as Yenkhom Birchandra (40) son of Y Anganghal.

The bomb went off while he was passing area alone with his rickshaw.

He sustained injury at his back.

Others injured in the blast were Laitonjam Ibochouba (55) of Lalambung Makhong and Konthoujam Dhananjoy (60) of Lalambung Makhong Naorem Leikai.

Ibochouba, who is serving as ST in police department and posting at Lamphel police station, sustained injuries at his behind while Dhananjoy, a supervisor at Senapati DIC office, in his right cheek.

Eyewitness accounts said that two miscreants triggered the bomb no sooner had the proprietor of the Langol View Clinic, Hawaibam Ratan of Kombirei Keithel entered inside the clinic after parking his Alto car.

Two youths coming on a motorcycle hurled the bomb towards the clinic, they said.

A team of Imphal west district police led by Senior SP, L Kailun rushed to the spot no sooner had the blast occurred and conducted spot verification at the incident site.

They recovered splinters of the bomb from the spot.

However, they could not guest the suspect behind the blast.

The triggering of bomb was while vendors and shopkeepers of New Market at Khwairamband Bazar were protesting against bomb threat by undergrounds to a footwear shop within the market complex in the morning that created panic.

A hand grenade was found deposited at shop no.17 of Block-B of New Market dealing with footwear.

Shopkeepers discovered the bomb at about 7 am in the morning when they were about to open shops for the day.

Later, police defused and disposed off at an open place.

Normal business of the day in the market set in the heart of the Imphal city was totally disturbed as vendors, shopkeepers and salesmen went on cease-work strike in protest against the bomb threat as it was not second time in the last one week threatening with bomb to the shops.

On July 30 last also a bomb was deposited a bomb at the pharmacy shop located in the same shopping complex wrapped with a warning letter from KYKL (MDF) to meet their monetary demand.

Following the incidents, police commandos conducted mopping operations in and around the Imphal city but there was no report of picking any suspect during the operations.

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