Three killed, four injured in blast
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 21 2014: At least three non-locals were killed and four others injured in a powerful IED blast, suspected to be powered by a remote-controlled device, in a tea stall at Khoyathong near Motbung bus parking at around 6.10 am today.

The incident happened barely a week after a similar IED blast killed two non-locals besides injuring four others at MG Avenue on December 15 .

Local sources said that the temporary roadside tea stall is run by a non-local and many migrant workers and other non-locals usually have tea there every morning.

Eye witnesses said that a woman, who came along with a man left a make-up (cosmetic) box near the tea stall at around 6 am.

Soon after they boarded a passenger bus and left the area, the box exploded with a loud bang killing one non-local on the spot and injured six others.

They said that around 30 non-locals were waiting for tea when the blast occurred at the stall run by one Sarat Patel from Bihar.

The place where the blast was triggered

Of the six injured non-locals who were rushed to RIMS hospital, two of them succumbed to injuries later while the condition of another non-local is stated to be critical.

After the blast, police cordoned off the area and bomb experts and forensic team conducted inquest of the blast site.

Three persons who died in the incident have been identified as Ram Khusum Das (55) s/o Jasbir of Rampur Baharan Khusi Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, Shiva Kumar (35) s/o Harihar of Rampur Barahan Khusi Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh and Lallan (35) s/o Tikori of Dasahawa Khusi Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh.

The injured persons have been identified as Rajkumar (30) s/o Indrajit of Uttar Pradesh, Gena (58) s/o Rampur Baranagar Khusi Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh, Surandar (20) s/o Ram Shish of Khusi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh.

All the three persons are presently staying at Khoyathong.

Another injured person, identified as C Lotha (50) s/o Khola Lotha of Mexola Wakha, Nagaland is said to be a conductor of the Nagaland State Transport Corporation.

All the bodies have been deposited at RIMS morgue while the injured persons are undergoing treatment at the Surgical Ward of the hospital.

Imphal police have taken up a case regarding the incident.

It may be mentioned that a similar IED blast occurred at MG Avenue, just a half km away from today's blast site on December 15 last, killing two non-locals and injuring four others.