Grenade found at ZEO office, bodies condemn
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, November 06 2024: A hand grenade was discovered inside the office campus of the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) in Phungreitang, on Wednesday morning.

Ukhrul police said they received reports of the explosive device around 9:49 am, following which a police team rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area.

The grenade was found wrapped in a plastic polythene bag behind the entrance.

Police called in a bomb squad from Imphal which arrived around 4:30 pm and safely disposed of the grenade at a secluded location near the old Central Jail.

A case has been registered at Ukhrul police station in connection with the incident, and an investigation is currently underway.

Meanwhile, police noted the absence of CCTV cameras on the ZEO campus, which has increasingly become a target for bomb threats in recent years.

Hunphun Village Authority (HVA) and NPMHR, Ukhrul have strongly condemned the act of planting a bomb at the ZEO.

"Such actions are a grave threat not only to the safety and well-being of our community but also to the stability and progress of our institutions dedicated to the advancement of education," HVA said in a statement.

It said that the ZEO office serves as a crucial pillar for the development and empowerment of future generations, providing the resources and guidance needed to educate and nurture the youth of Ukhrul and surrounding areas, calling it an attack on the heart of our community's hopes and aspirations.

"We urge all individuals and groups to respect the sanctity of educational institutions and refrain from actions that instil fear or disrupt public peace.

We also call upon law enforcement to take swift action to investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Let this incident serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility to foster peace and security in our region".

"Let us unite against violence and intimidation, and together, reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and thriving environment for all," the statement added.

In a separate statement, NPMHR, Ukhrul decried the bomb threat to the education department and urged all concerned to find peaceful means to resolve any differences and avoid violent acts which could disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the township.

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