Six including cops hurt in blast in heart of city

Imphal, February 18 2015: At least six persons including three police personnel were hurt when a powerful IED went off on Masjid road located few metres away from Shamu Makhong in the heart of Imphal under City PS today around 4 pm.

The condition of one police personnel is stated to be critical.

He is undergoing treatment at RIMS.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi has strongly condemned the blast and praised the bravery of a police personnel who prevented innocent civilian casualty in the crowded market place.

Eye witness account said that the incident happen today at around 4 pm.

An unattended school bag was found lying among the baskets of betel leaves on the busy Masjid road area located next to Ima Market on the southern side of Shamu Makhong.

People who were present in the area informed about the unattended suspicious bag to the Reserve Line Police personnel who were on the beat in the area.

Soon after, the area was cordoned off by the police team and all womenfolk, shopkeepers and the betel leaf traders were evacuated from the area.

City police was immediately informed about the presence of the suspicious bag.

A constable of the Imphal West Reserve Line identified as Salam Dineshore went near the suspicious bag and scanned the suspicious bag.

An Improvised Explosive Device was found fitted inside the bag.

The explosive was suspected to be assembled with mortar shell fitted with other explosive materials along with detonator and a battery.

The explosive went off suddenly when the policeman took the bag and approached the City police team led by an ASI had just arrived at the scene in a DI Tata vehicle.

The explosion caused injury to three police personnel and three civilians.

The injured persons were immediately rushed to RIMS for treatment.

The six injured persons are Constable of Imphal West Reserve Line No 09011391 Salam Dineshore (35) s/o S Gourakeshor of Iroisemba Mamang Leikai; ASI of City police station Yumnam Sunil (30) s/o Salung of Nambol Ishok; Constable 0901558 Lourembam Rajesh (33); Md Tejauddin (35) s/o Ali of Uchiwa Heinou Makhong; Pakpi (50) w/o Dwijamani of Khurai and Khundrakpam Hemasakhi (45) w/o Ashok of Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai.

Constable Salam Dineshore is said to be in a critical condition.

Soon after the blast, a large number of Imphal West district police led by Ak Jhalajit, SP arrived at the spot.

Clay Khongsai IG (Law and Order-I) also arrived at the spot to take stock of the situation.

The area was later cordoned off by the police team and a search for the presence of any other explosive materials in the surrounding areas was conducted.

Chief Minister O Ibobi, accompanied PHED Minister I Hemochandra, Education Minister Okendro, DGP Shahid Ahmad visited the injured persons at RIMS.

During the meeting with the injured persons, leaders of Ima Keithel narrated the incident to the CM and his team of Ministers.

They apprised the brave and valiant deed of Constable Dineshore who risked his life to save civilian casualty.

Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister, after visiting the injured persons, said that the incident was very unfortunate.

He said it was an act of cowardice while also strongly condemning the act.

The CM also categorically questioned the objective of the miscreants in triggering such a blast at a crowded place and causing injuries to innocent people.

Pointing out that underground groups used to claim hands in such incident in the past, O Ibobi said that now no group claim their hands in such blasts.

The CM further questioned what message the groups concerned are trying to convey to the people of the State by triggering such blasts which claim civilian casualty.

He also said that major damages were averted due to the brave deeds of one of the police Constables who risked his own life to save others and tried to throw it in the river after he realized that there was not enough time to wait for the bomb expert team.

The Constable suffered injuries when the bomb went off all of a sudden.

Saying that the act deserves wide condemnation from all quarters, the CM appealed to all concerned not to trigger such blasts at crowded places.

The CM said problems or differences can be settled by sitting together while adding that violence would not bring any solution.

When asked if there was any security lapse given the frequent occurrences of such incidents since January, the CM replied in the negative saying, police personnel are doing whatever they can to protect the innocent public.

He admitted that not all individuals can be checked.

Investigation will be initiated to establish the fact, he added.

When asked about the CCTV cameras which lay dysfunctional in the State, the CM said that the Government is making efforts to make them functional.