Imphal, May 18, 2010: One person has been killed as a suspected sabotage plan to blow up a bridge on the outskirts of Kangpokpi Town on NH-39 failed.

a police source said silence of the sub-divisional town was shattered by a loud blast at about 12.15 am today and upon enquiry at day-break, a severely mutilated corpse with the head and limbs severed including the hand of the victim were found under the bridge along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway-39.Vehicular movement, particularly goods carriers along this important highway had ceased as total blockade is currently enforced against the State Government's decision to go ahead with the Autonomous District Council elections.

Moreover, death of two persons in police firing at Mao area on May 6 had resulted in the Naga Students' Federation banning passage of vehicles coming from Manipur.

It is informed that one bamboo ladder, a yellow coloured torch-light and a nylon rope have been recovered from near the blast site even as a mobile phone handset has been found from the possession of deceased, whose charred body was found under the 120 feet long bridge.

Moreover, an identity card issued by the Election Commission of India in the name of doni alias Momo Monshang (26) s/o Panichung of Liwa Sarei, Chandel district was also recovered from the victim's possession.

The blast site is situation about 500 metres north of Kangpokpi police station.

A camp of the Assam Rifles is close by.

No damage was caused to the RCC bridge, which is a vital structure of the Highway.

Meanwhile, the police source speculating that the bomb might be an improvised explosive device said the nylon rope may be intended to trigger the blast from a safe distance.

Kangpokpi police have registered a case and deposited the corpse at RIMS morgue.

The abortive attempt to bomb kangpokpi bridge reminds one of a similar act of sabotage on July 20, 2005 when NSCN (IM) activists ruptured a bailey bridge on the Imphal-silchar NH-53 in Irang village of Tamenglong district.

A welder from Tamenglong Bazar namely K abonmai (37), who was allegedly engaged by the NSCN (IM) to cut the bridge and snap communication, died on the spot as the bridge collapsed while two cadres of the rebel outfit were seriously injured.

Coincidentally, both incidents occurred during economic blockades involving All Naga Students' Association Manipur.

The agitation in 2005 was against the State government's declaration of june 18 as State holiday while the ANSAM at present is voicing opposition to the conduct of ADC elections.

It is also speculated in various circle that attempt to blast Kangpokpi bridge might have been planned to foil passage of additional forces to Senapati/Mao area and prevent transportation of ration for State forces deployed in these places.

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