Imphal, August 06 2010: At least six people were injured, including the proprietor and a woman worker, in a grenade attack today evening at the workshop of Arun Enterprises, Ghari Makha Leikai in Imphal west district.

The proprietor of the Steel fabrication unit was among the injured in a blast triggered by unidentified underground activists riding on a motorcycle.

The blast occurred around 6.30 pm, police said adding that all the injured were workers of the steel unit.

The injured were shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal with the condition of two of them stated to be serious.

They were Akham Ranjandev (32) son of Ibungo of Sagolband Moirang Leirak, Naocha (22) son of Joychand of Wabagai, Hekrujam Mahadev (28) son of H Surjadev of Sagolband Moirang Leirak, Heikrujam Loken (34) son of Ganashyam of Sagolband Thangjam Leirak and Haobijam Pakpi (58) wife of H Tomba of Thanga presently residing at Sagolband Thangjam Leirak.

The hand grenade was triggered while the proprietor and his workers were washing their hands after work at about 6.30 pm, a local report said.

The bomb lobbed by the suspected undergrounds exploded at the verandah of the workshop.

By the impact of the blast formed, a pit of around 3 inch diameter with a depth of 15 inches, they said.

Police commandos of Imphal west, arrived at the spot soon after the blast took place, and launched a search operation in and around the locality immediately.

Along with personnel of the VDF at its post in Kwakeithel they conducted frisking and checking of passersby on the Tidim road.

But there were no reports of arrest or rounding up of suspects.

The motive behind the triggering of blast at the steel unit could not be confirmed immediately but police suspect monetary demand behind it.

Meanwhile, one out of two hand grenades hurled at the residence of director of the Youth Affairs and Sports went off early today even as undergrounds attempted to trigger another bomb at the residence of project officer of social welfare department.

Police said that militants hurled the bomb at the residence of the director of youth affairs and sports, Boby Waikhom at Loklaobung under Imphal police station early at about 8.10 am today.

No human casualties were reported in the blast but it caused damage to the RCC fencing wall of the residence.

Later, another unexploded bomb was also recovered from the outhouse of the director who is the son of a retired police officer.

His father Waikhom Damudor was DIG in the Manipur police department.

The bomb was later defused and disposed off by the personnel of the state police bomb disposal squad.

Decrying the bomb attack, womenfolk of the locality staged a sit-in protest registering a strong protest against the act of the militants apparently related with extortion demands from the director.

Decrying the act of the militants, they lamented who will bear the risk if any of the residents of the are had become casualties.

Militants are indulging in irresponsive acts for the sake of money and their own interest, they blamed.

Militants also hurled a hand grenade at the residence of S Achouba, project officer of the state social welfare department at Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak under Imphal police station around the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

A team of Imphal West Police Commando personnel defused and disposed off the same at about 6.30 am, police report added.

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