Triple bomb blasts rip apart portions of Irabot Memorial Hall at Lamlai AC
Parijat suspects political hand, locals protest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2012: Substantial damage has been caused to the Irabot Memorial Hall at Challou under Lamlai Assembly Constituency when at least three out of six planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) exploded simultaneously.

The explosions were reportedly triggered at around 2 am today.

While police bomb experts recovered same number of IEDs from the memorial complex, troops of Assam Rifles have reportedly rounded up two individuals suspected to be involved in triggering the blast.

Strongly condemning widespread destruction caused to the hall built in memory of pioneer figure Lamyanba Hijam Irabot, Agriculture Minister Pheiroijam Parijat, who is also the local MLA, did not rule out possibility of political hand in the blasts.

The blasts also provoked local womenfolk to stage protest demonstration at the memorial premises which was followed by a rally in denunciation of the incident.

Bomb experts opined that the IEDs (pipe-bombs), each weighing 2.5 kgs, might have been planted with the intention to bring down the structure as they were fitted under the platform and main pillars of the hall.

Besides three other unexploded pipe-bombs, a gas (LPG) cylinder, cane/bamboo basket and two plastic jerry-cans containing oily substance were found.

The damaged portions of Irabot Memorial Hall and rally and sit-in-protest against the blasts

Locals claimed to have heard atleast three loud explosions in the wee hours today.

It is said that supporters of Ph Parijat, CPI nominee for the upcoming State Assembly election from Lamlai AC, were at the memorial premises till late night yesterday chatting on election issues.

Some locals speculate that the explosive items might have been planted after the said workers went home.

Upon enquiry at dawn, locals initially spotted an unexploded bomb at the memorial complex and soon informed the police subsequently leading to search of the area by police bomb experts and personnel of 13th Bn BSF, and safe removal of the three IEDs.

The search team also found two wallets with identity cards from the memorial complex based on which two individuals have been rounded up by Assam Rifles troops.

Identities of the two persons have not been disclosed by police authorities.

From the recovered bombs containing numerous nuts and bolts inside indigenously-built spice crushers, explosive experts opined that the IEDs are very powerful.

Referring to the detection of mangled straws, they speculated that two of the bombs were triggered by heat while one was through remote control.

The explosions caused substantial damage to the right side of the structure.

The unexploded IEDs were recovered from the left side corner of the hall.

Reacting to the incident, Minister Parijat commented that anti-social elements might have been hired by his political rival to trigger the blast.

Contending that a similar incident had also taken place at the time of the previous election in 2007, Parijat expressed that blasts might have been triggered to disrupt public meeting cum inauguration of an election office at the memorial hall on January 11 .

While conceding that an armed group had served monetary demand to him, Parijat also said it would premature to conclude that the said outfit might be responsible for the blasts.

Meanwhile, spearheaded by the local womenfolk a silent protest rally starting from the memorial park was taken out upto Lamlai police station where a memorandum was handed over demanding arrest of the culprits responsible for the blasts.

Some of the protestors also posed as to how the bombs eluded detection when police personnel had been able to detect even a litre of country liquor.