Bomb attack on peaceful protestors against extortion; 12 hurt, three serious, many including KYKL, UNLF express dismay

Imphal, Jun 26: At least 12 persons including two minor girls were hurt in a bomb blast after suspected militants hurled a grenade at some protestors staging a dharna against demands made by an underground group at the Ningthoukhong bazar under Bishnupur police station around 11.45 am this morning.The incident occurred when shop owners and vendors of Ningthoukhong bazar were holding a sit-in protest in connection with a demand made on every shop owner of Ningthoukhong bazar to provide two mobile phone hand sets each to a particular underground group. All shop owners and vendors of the areas had shut down their shops from 8 am this morning and were participating in the protest.During the course of the protest at the bazar, at around 11.45 am, three persons who came riding a Pulsar motorcycle and a NV scooter, suddenly hurled a hand grenade at the protestors which exploded after rolling into a roadside drain resulting in injuries to 12 persons.The injured persons were immediately evacuated to the nearby Bishnupur district hospital. They were identified as RK Surchandra, 45, son of RK Thmabalsana of Ningthoukhong ward No. 3, Khundrakpam Tomba, 40, son of Kh Bira of Ninghthoukhong ward No. 2, RK Kerani, 28, son of Gulapsana of Ningthoukhong Gopinath Leikai, RK Anupama, 7, daughter of Lembi Devi of Ningthoukhong Ward No. 2, Khwairakpam Brojamohal, 42, of Ningthoukhong ward No. 4, Thokchom Akupi, 10, daughter of Ibungo Singh of Ningthoukhong bazar, Laishram Bashi, 37, son of Thambalngou of Ningthoukhong ward No. 2, Wairokpam Sureshkumar, 45, son of Ningthoukhong ward No. 12, Thokchom Bheigyachandra, 45, of Ningthoukhong bazar and Thokchom Inaocha, 32, son of Mani of Ningthoukhong ward No. 2.Two of the injured who were only slightly injured by splinters at the hands were discharged from Bishnupur district hospital after first aid. Their names were not enrolled in the hospital register.Three of the victims identified as Thokchom Akupi who sustained splinter injuries at her left lower abdomen, RK Anupama who was hurt at her right chest, and RK Surchandra who was hurt at his abdomen were later referred to the RIMS hospital in Imphal after their condition became serious this afternoon.Both the minor girls, RK Anupama and Thokchom Akupi, were hurt when they came out to the bazar with their mothers while the rest of the injured were among the protestors at the sit in-protest at the bazar.Meanwhile, the public of Ningthoukhong area launched a road blockade along the Tiddim road from this afternoon in the aftermath of the bomb attack, resulting in serious inconveniences being caused to the public along the road.Many civil organisations and political parties including the HERICOUN, AMUCO and CPI(M) Manipur State Council have expressed their deep concern over the blast at Ningthoukhong bazar which they called an act of terrorists.The incident clearly indicates that there is no more room for the common people to speak out or demand their democratic rights and also shows the total failure of the state government to provide security to the masses in the state, many organisations commented.The United People`s Front, Manipur also condemned the act of hurling a bomb at a protest site at Ningthoukhong bazar while making an appeal to those concerned not to repeat such dastardly actions in public areas and expressed its solidarity with those injured in the incident.In the meantime, the underground PREPAK in a statement signed by one Konthoujam Chingkhei Meetei, secretary in-charge, department of publicity and propaganda of the PREPAK has clarified that the outfit was not in any way related with the blast that took place at Ningthoukhong bazar today. He also condemned the incident.Meanwhile, a public meeting was held this evening at the Ningthoukhong bazar to condemn the inhuman bomb attack. It was resolved in the meeting that if the responsible group does not give a clarification on or before June 28 the Imphal-Tiddim road would be indefinitely blockaded from the next day onwards.

(Courtesy:IFP)