Terror attack rips Sangakpham, kills five, injures seven
Governor, Chief Minister condemns; Police suspect IED fitted in NV scooter
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 01 2011:
At least five persons including two school girls, a barber and his son were killed while 7 others sustained serious injuries when a powerful blast ripped through a crowded marketplace at Sangakpham under Heingang Police station in Imphal East district today at about 1.50 pm.
The blast site was strewn with mangled and mutilated bodies and blood and human flesh was scattered all over when this reporter arrived at the spot.
Seven persons sustained varying degree of injuries and were immediately rushed to RIMS and JNIMS for medical treatment.
One of the seven victims succumbed at Shija Hospital.
"We're trying to find out the details", Y Joykumar, DGP, Manipur who rushed to the spot soon after the incident said ,"Let the proper examination be conducted first" .
The state police chief however hinted that it was an IED blast triggered by a planted NV scooter.
Joykumar said preliminary evidence suggested the explosion was pre-planned.
He said that only a report from the forensic lab can say with certainty on the facts regarding the incident.
The blast killed a Bihari named Zawahir Thakur (45) and his son Munna Thakur (20) who ran the hair cutting saloon, two school girls in uniform identified as Thokchom Apik (10), daughter of Th Basanta of Sangakpham Awang Leikai and Thilaso Tangkhul (10), daughter of Kazipkui of Marou village in Ukhrul, presently staying in Sangakpham.
Another unidentified torso was also found at the blast site.
The blast today came close on the heels of another blast that rocked Singjamei Chingamathak around 10 pm yesterday.
The DGP said that the two blasts may not be related or triggered by one group but things would become clearer in about 3 days.
CM, Okram Ibobi and his Ministers and MLAs came at the blast site to take a first-hand account.
The CM directed the DGP to launch an intense search to nab the culprits of the blast.
The injured persons were identified as Soibam Ibomcha (60) of Heingang Makha Leikai, Chongtham Akasini (50) of Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak, Samurailatpam Santi (30) wife of Joykumar of Chingmeirong Lei Ingkhol, Maibam German (25) of Sangakpham Keithel, Taorem Kiranmala (35) of Laipham Khunou Sangakpham, Thokchom Tilapatra (32) of Achanbigei and Rebika Tangkhul (50) of Chingmeirong.
A witness told Hueiyen Lanpao that a man who looked like a tribal person came to his shop to buy a CD.
He seemed tense and restless while he was choosing the CD.
The blast took approximately five minutes after the man left the shop.
The Governor of Manipur termed the incident as a �cowardly act.
Such senseless targeting of innocent citizens is a sheer act of barbarism and must be strongly condemned by all, as such incidents have no place in the modern civilized world, he stated in a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan.
CM, Ibobi said that his government strongly condemns the bomb attack in the Sangakpham market.
It is a dastardly and cowardly act and all efforts will be made to nab the culprits, he added.
The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 75, 000 to the permanently disabled, Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs 10,000 to victims with minor injureis, in addition to providing them free medical treatment by the government.
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