Imphal, July 06 2010: Atleast three persons have been injured when aq bomb exploded this afternoon close to a private medical centre located near RIMS Hospital.

As per police report, the blast occurred at around 2.30 pm near Langol View Charitable Clinic and Maternity home, Uripok Kombirei Keithel.

Quoting eye witness accounts, the police maintained that unidentified person/s who came in an autorickshaw lobbed a hand grenade which exploded.

Three persons sustained bomb splinter wounds among whom one is said to be a driver of Central Motor Transport unit of Manipur Police namely Laikangbam Ibochouba (51) of Lamlong Bazar.

The two other injured persons have been identified as Konthoujam Dhananjoy (60), an Industries Department employee from Lalambung Makhong and Yengkhom Birchandra (40) a rickshaw puller from Moidangpok Khunou.

Ibochouba has been injured on the back with Dhananjoy and Birchandra wounded near the ear and back respectively.

All three have been admitted to the RIMS Hospital and their conditions stated to be stable.

Besides puncturing one of the tyres, impact of the blast shattered the rear windshield of a Maruti Alto car (MN01Q/8572) said to belong to the private medical centre's proprietor namely Ratankumar Hawaibam.

The hand-grenade reportedly landed under the car parked in front of the Clinic.

Senior SP of Imphal West district police L Kailun was among many police officials who arrived at the blast site for preliminary investigation.

Meanwhile, as pre-emptive measures ahead of the monsoon session of State Legislative Assembly police conducted cordon and search operations at various pockets of Imphal City area today.

In all 25 persons were detained for verification by Imphal West district police.

The security steps assume significance as one hand-grenade was found this morning at a temporary market shed close to the State Assembly complex apart from a similar incident on June 30 when an explosive device was recovered from the doorstep of a pharmaceutical outlet at the same area.

Comment