Protest held against Kamjong NPF office bomb attack
Source: Hueiyen News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul/Kamjong, May 21 2015 : A powerful bomb blast hit the information office of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) located at the heart of Kamjong headquarters on Wednesday evening, causing massive destruction to the building and other properties ahead of the forthcoming 1 June Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council (MHAADC) Election.

However, there was no report of any casualty.

According to reports culled from the spot, there was no one inside the office located opposite the local play ground at Tangrei bazar when the incident occurred around 8: 17 pm.

However, the three-room office building was totally blown apart and all the properties including the furniture were destroyed in the explosion.

Local residents said around the same time a few minutes after hearing a loud report of the explosion, they heard a gun fire from a distance.

Women activists held a protest demonstration against the bomb attack on NPF Kamjong office

Talking to reporters, NPF candidate of 18-Kamjong DCC, K Ramshang said that the attack was entirely unexpected as he has been freely campaigning in the area without any threat from anyone.

"I don't think I was the target because I do not have any personal enmities with anyone," he said adding that since it was just a party information office, they normally close it by 7:30 in the evening.

Following the incident, a mass sit-in protest was held at the Kamjong playground under the eagis of the Tangkhul Naga-Kuki Welfare Association (TNKA) of the area in protest against the Wednesday bomb attack.

Various social organizations and students from different schools of the area held placards to denounce the attack during the sit-in protest.

Leaders of TNKA, Eastern Chiefs Association and Raizan Long while condemning in unison the bomb attack on the ADC candidate, appealed to all concerned not to repeat such act in future which could jeopardize the prospect of free and fair polls in the area.

Meanwhile, a team of NPF leaders led by State President Awangbou Newmai reached the spot thursday morning and took stock of the situation.

Addressing the crowd, NPF chief Newmai termed the bomb attack on party candidate as coward and undemocratic.

Significantly, the three candidates contesting the Kamjong DCC seat in the ensuing ADC polls turned up to join the the chorus of condemnation of the attack.

INC candidate AS Pamreiso and BJP candidate C Hopingson vehemently condemned the attack saying such acts could be detrimental to the peaceful atmosphere in the area.

Meanwhile, Additional SP Ukhrul police Angam Ningshen has said that the bomb attack could be the handiwork of some armed outfits operating in the area, while adding that the police have registered a case with the Chassad Kamjong police station and that investigation in going on.