Two killed, 19 hurt in Singjamei blast
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 29 2014: At least two non-local labourers were killed and 19 others, including one woman wounded in a powerful bomb explosion that took place at Singjamei Chingamakhong market close to the Assam Rifles post at Chinga Ching, a hillock in Imphal West district, around 5 pm Thursday.

Shortly after the deadly attack, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh telephoned to Chief Minister O Ibobi and asked him not to spare those who are responsible for the blast.

During the telephonic talk, the Union Home Minister has also asked the Government of Manipur to deploy more security forces to maintain law and order in the State, sources said.

Ibobi assured Rajnath that his Government will bring all the culprits involved in Thursday's blast to justice, sources said.

Two killed, 19 hurt in Singjamei blast

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and many others have strongly condemned the Singjamei blast that claimed two lives and wounded 19 others.

The bomb blast occurred at the foot of Chinga Ching where the post of 40 Assam Rifles located atop.

The bomb went off 40 ft below the hillock.

The two victims who lost their lives in the blast have been identified as Shyamshankar (31) and Arbin Rai (20), both hailing from Bihar's Muzaffarpur district.

Their corpses have been deposited at RIMS mortuary for post mortem.

The 19 wounded victims have been admitted to different hospitals for treatment.

Among them, 10 are undergoing treatment at RIMS, five at Advanced Specialty Hospital and Research Institute, Imphal and two each at JNIMS, Imphal and Iboyaima Hospital & Research Centre, Singjamei.

Condition of one of the wounded identified as Sanjay Rai is stated to be critical.

Four of the 10 injured victims, who have been admitted to RIMS for treatment, are local Meiteis including one woman and the other six are non-local labourers, also from Muzafarpur district of Bihar.

The woman has been identified as Laishram Ongbi Manisana Devi (55) of Chingamakha Meisnam Leikai in Imphal West.

The three other locals are Thongam Bimol (58) of Singjamei Waikhom Leikai, Chanam Bimol (23) of Nagirangbam and Thounaojam Shayamkanhai (31) of Singjamei Chingamakha Oinam Leirak.

Non-local labourers normally gathered at the spot where the blast took place waiting for people to hire them every day.

None of the people who were present near the site could see any of the unidentified assailants who set off the bomb.

However, the police said they believed the explosion was caused by a powerful bomb using a remote control device.

Some portion of the tin-roofing of the market shed was damaged in the blast which also destroyed the southern railing of the small market.

Soon after the blast, a large number of police rushed to the site and the victims were seen carried away in police and private vehicles.

The police cordoned off the area and blocked all roads for some sometime and conducted a search to detect other possible bombs in the area.

Chief Minister Ibobi visited all the hospitals where the victims are undergoing treatment.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also in charge of the Home Department, other ministers and top police officials during the visit.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the visit, Ibobi denounced the Singjamei blast as a cowardly act that deserves condemnation by everyone.

He also assured that no culprits will be spared.

Ibobi said that the police and other forces have been alerted to thwart such incidents in suspected areas.