Blast rips Sangai festival, one killed
Undeterred, tourism fest carries on, draws to a close as scheduled
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2011: Just two days before the arrival of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, a powerful bomb exploded in front of the main gate of the Sangai Tourism Festival killing the carrier of the explosive and injuring four people today at 11.10 am.

Undeterred by the bomb blast, Tourism Minister TN Haokip who rushed to the spot said that the festival would carry on and wrap up as scheduled.

As announced, the festival carried on into the evening.

In addition to the security arrangement put in place for the Sangai festival, extra security measures have also been taken up all around Imphal city in view of the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Gandhi.

It was amid this tight security arrangement that the explosive managed to sneak into the tourism festival venue unnoticed before it exploded shattering the whole area.

The spot where the bomb exploded is around 200 metres away from City Convention Centre and the MFDC's newly constructed auditorium which have been readied for inauguration by Dr Manmohan Singh on December 3 .

The spot where the bomb exploded in front of the venue of the Sangai festival and a sequence of photos showing the injured cart driver in a daze before being picked up by the police to be taken to the hospital

The bomb which was brought there in a rickshaw-cart exploded at around 11 am.

According to eye witnesses and police sources, the explosive which was suspected to be an IED was brought by rickshaw driver Md Kora (50) of Mayang Imphal Irong Umang but staying at Hatta.

Even as both the legs of Kora were cut off by the explosion, he could talk with police for a few minutes.

He said, "some persons who identified themselves as KCP activists asked me to deliver 'some goods' to the tourism festival venue after paying me Rs 20" .

However, Kora succumbed to his injuries on the way to JNIMS.

The other injured victims have been identified as Yumnam Bala (50) of Konthoujam, Ch Bidyapati of Awang Khunou, Oinam Wangolsana (28) of Kontha Khabam Mayai Leikai, Oinam Surchandra (37) and Kulladaja of Kongba Ucheckon.

After the explosion, explosive experts searched for presence of any more bomb in the area.

A team of SPG who arrived ahead of the Prime Minister also came and inspected the site.

Forensic experts too came to the site and collected shrapnel and other remains of the explosive.

The festival was re-opened after security forces assured full safety.

Later speaking to media persons, DIG Clay Khongsai who is also Imphal East SP in-charge said that KCP-MC might be responsible for the bomb blast as they are currently enforcing general strike.

"From what the cart driver said, before he passed away, we may deduce that the KCP (MC) was 99 pc behind the attack," he said while speaking to The Sangai Express.

The senior police officer said that it is not clear how the explosive was packaged but added that from the nature of the injuries suffered by the cart driver, it may have been kept under the saddle of the cart.

A reliable source informed that they have inputs that some of the stall owners had earlier received threats and warnings from the KCP (MC) to close down.

A formal complaint has however not been lodged with the police.

DGP Joykumar also came to the blast site and inspected the area.

Later, Tourism Minister TN Haokip and Commissioner KK Chhetry also came to the spot.