Kangpokpi protests bomb culture, many more decry
Source: The Sangai Express

Sadar Hills, August 10 2016: Kangpokpi today demonstrated against the Monday bomb blast along National Highway-2 near the town which was said to be the fourth such instance in Sadar Hills since 2010. Sadar Hills witnessed its first bomb threat at the midnight of May 18, 2010 when an IED exploded underneath Kangpokpi bridge along National Highway-2 under Kangpokpi PS, which connects the town with the rest of the world.

It may be recalled that the silence of the town on that fateful night was shattered by a loud blast at about 12.15 am and upon inquiry at day-break, a severely mutilated corpse with the head and right hand completely blown off in the suspected sabotage plan to blow up the bridge, though failed, was found under the bridge.

Later, the victim was identified as Doni alias Momo Monshang (26), s/o Panichung of Liwa Sarei, Chandel district as indicated by a voter's identity card issued by the Election Commission of India.

He was suspected to be an active cadre of NSCN-IM.

Secondly, after 2 years, another Improvised Explosive Device planted inside a Maruti Van exploded at around 12.15 pm on National Highway-2 between Koubru Laikha and Sapormeina.

Two personnel of 13 BSF posted at Koirengei Imphal sustained minor injuries.

Thirdly, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found planted near the main entry gate of Presidency College, Motbung at around 7.30 pm on February 17, 2016 evening which was later detonated safely by bomb experts including police and AR personnel.

The fourth blast which occurred along the highway between Kangpokpi and S Changoubung on Monday at around 10.45 am inflicted minor splinter injuries on two BSF personnel of 54 Bn posted at Churachandpur heading towards Dimapur side in a convoy.

Thousands of people mostly student within Kangpokpi and its adjoining areas came out to the street to demonstrate and displayed their disapproval of such destructive and menacing activities in the area.

The protest began at Brigadier Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi and proceeded towards Kangpokpi main bazar after marching towards IT Road bazar and culminated at the main traffic point in the heart of the town after a short gathering.

The demonstrators held placards which read, "We condemn bomb and gun culture", "Human race cannot coexist with bomb", "Social security is our rights, bombing causes terror", "We are against bomb-for politics of peace", "Enough we need peace not bomb", "Do don't get us wrong we hate bomb", "We are peace loving people of Sadar Hill district", etc.

The mass protest rally was jointly organized by Kuki Women Union, Sadar Hills, KSO, Sadar Hills, TSA, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi Town Committee, Kangpokpi Women Welfare Organization, Kanggui Youth Union under the aegis of Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills.

Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills and other CSOs including the student community strongly condemned bomb blasts on several occasions in Sadar Hills and warned not to repeat such acts in future.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident TSA, Sadar Hills, All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union, the Zila Sainik Board and All Ex-Servicemen, Senapati district and Tumuyon Khullen Village Authority condemned the incident in the 'strongest term' .

TSA, Sadar Hills while condemning the recent bomb blast said "we will not tolerate any destructive ploy to victimize the innocent civilians" .

All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union, Manipur also condemned the bomb blast and appealed to all not to repeat such activities in future.

The Zila Sainik Board and all Ex-Servicemen, Senapati district also strongly condemned Monday bomb blast along NH-2 in which two BSF Jawans were injured and another bomb was found in a Senapati passenger bus near Tangdongyan which was later defused successfully.

It also said that such bombing activities target innocent civilians in public places and are against humanity.

The armed force veteran bodies also asked responsible group/s or individuals not to repeat such activities in Senapati district, stating that armed force veterans will not tolerate such destructive acts in future.

Tumuyon Khullen Village Authority has also condemned the bomb blast which occurred in its village jurisdiction on Monday which injured two BSF personnel.

The VA in a statement also condemned the physical assault of an innocent farm chowkidar in the aftermath of the incident by security forces.

Demanding those responsible for the bomb blast to clarify at the earliest, the village authority termed such attempts to create terror and death of innocent civilians as 'barbaric and an act of terrorism' .

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