Six hurt in blast near TSE office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 03 2009: Atleast six persons suffered injuries when unidentified persons triggered a blast along the busy Tiddim Road near the office of the Sangai Express daily.

A sub-editor of the Matamgee Yakairol daily Thokchom Binoy (42) s/o Th Dharma of Moirangkhom Loklaobung is among the injured and was initially admitted to RIMS Hospital.

Binoy's right calf was hit by three bomb splinters and has been referred to Shija Hospital, langol where doctors are likely to conduct operation tomorrow to remove the splinters.

The damaged maruti car and the grenade lever recovered by police from the blast site near the office of the Sangai Express

The blast, that took place at around 4.45 pm today, shattered the rear wind-shield of a blue colour Maruti car bearing registration No MN1K/0101 .

One of the injured was at the wheel of the car and is informed to be an Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) of the Agriculture Department namely Konjengbam Shitaljit (54) s/o K Selungba of Sangaiprou Maning Leikai.

He also suffered splinter wound on the right leg.

four others injured in the blast are Konthoujam Kumar (47) s/o (L) K Ibobi of Lairenjam, S Dilip (47) s/o S Gulap of Sega Road Takhellambam leikai, Naorem Ahanbi Devi (45) w/o N Borbira of Malom Tulihal and Arambam Bony (35) s/o (L) A Ibotombi of Elangbam Leikai.

Bomb splinters grazed the back and legs of K Kumar, an employee of the PWD who was returning home from work.

Dilip sustained injury on the right thigh.

He was riding a Honda Activa at the time of the blast.

Both ahanbi and Bony suffered splinter wounds on the hands.

Moments after the blast locals and a number of media-persons arrived at the spot and were involved in attending to the injured persons, who were later rushed to the hospital in police vehicles.

SDPO (Lamphel) and OC Imphal west district commando also showed up at the blast site to conduct preliminary investigation.

According to a police official who scanned the blast site and recovered a grenade lever, the explosive item might be Chinese made hand-grenade.

with the car, that bore impact of the blast blocking half the road, smooth flow of traffic was effected compelling the police personnel to divert traffic on one side of the road of about 100 metres.

Talking to newspersons before being taken for treatment, K Shitaljit said he observed an unidentified person stooping and lobbing something from the roadside that triggered the explosion.

Speculating that the attacker might have missed the intended target, the AAO also claimed that a water tanker of Central security force was moving ahead of him.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) L Kailun confided that even though the intended target of the attack could not be known immediately investigation has begun to gather vital clues.

While quoting accounts of eye witnesses that Central security forces might be the target as their vehicles passed the spot seconds before the blast, the SSP, also ruled out possibility of media houses being the target.

Meanwhile, All manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) has strongly condemned triggering of the blast near the media houses and injuries caused to a journalist.

AMWJU also appeal to all concerned to ensure such incidents do not recur near offices of newspaper.