KCP-MC 'gifts' grenade to newspaper
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2016: The militant outfit KCP-MC planted a hand grenade at the office of PANDAM evening daily at Wahengbam Leikai this evening.

The explosive found at around 6 pm was defused at around 6.30 pm by a bomb disposal squad of Manipur Police.

The grenade put inside a white plastic carry bag was found above a steel almirah along with a note from KCP-MC.

According to information culled from the spot, some unknown persons who identified themselves as cadres of KCP called the Editor of the evening daily through telephone and informed him that a hand grenade has been planted inside the newspaper office.

KCP-MC 'gifts' grenade to newspaper

The Editor and other employees were not present in their office when the phone call came.

Nonetheless, they informed police about placing a hand grenade in their office by militants.

Soon, a team of Imphal West District police led by SP N Herojit arrived at the spot and cordoned off the area and they waited for arrival of bomb disposal squad.

In the meantime, vehicular traffic moving from Keishampat toward Maharani Bridge was diverted away from the cordoned off area.

The bomb disposal squad safely defused the bomb safely soon after their arrival.

The note found along with the grenade was marked 'Danger' in red ink.

It was also written, "Respected brothers and Editor singda pijaba New Year 2017 gi gift.

Warning Ni, KCP-MC" .

Meanwhile, the Editors' Guild Manipur held a meeting this evening and strongly condemned the act of planting a hand grenade at the office of PANDAM.

A press release issued by the guild's general secretary said that threatening Editors amounts to intimidating the entire media fraternity.

The meeting decided to leave the Editorial space of December 27 issue blank with only these words, "We condemn placing bomb at the office of PANDAM" .

In protest against this intimidation, the State's media fraternity would suspend their daily work tomorrow and stage a protest demonstration at Keishampat from 10 am to 4 pm.

The EGM also appealed to all media persons and all concerned to support the protest agitation which is aimed at safeguarding the freedom of press.