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Posted on 30 November 2011 |
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Powerful explosion ahead of PM’s visit kills one
Bomb rigged to a rickshaw goes off at the entrance of ongoing Sangai Tourism Festival in Imphal
RK Suresh
Imphal
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A severely injured rickshaw puller at the site of the bomb blast in Imphal
Photos: Jonish Nongmaithem |
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Two days ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Imphal, a powerful bomb blast rocked Manipur’s capital killing a rickshaw puller and injuring two women.
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Policemen carry the rickshaw puller to hospital |
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As visitors thronged the ongoing Sangai Tourism Festival at Hapta Kangjeibung, the bomb, which was apparently rigged to a rickshaw, exploded around 10.30 AM leaving serious doubts on the ability of the police to provide security to tourists or the general public.
According to witnesses, before the rickshaw puller—Mohammad Kora of Irong Umang Leikai, in Imphal West district—could reach the entrance, the bomb went off. According to the police, Kora was paid Rs 20 by a youth to carry a box.
The explosion almost severed Kora’s lower portion while injuring the two women, identified as Bidyapati from Sagolband Awang Khunou in Imphal West, and Yumnam Bala Devi from Konthoujam Awang Leikai that falls under Thoubal district. According to the police, the victims were rushed to JN Hospital, where Kora succumbed to his injuries.
The blast occurred despite the presence of a massive number of policemen deployed around the venue of the festival, organised by the Manipur Tourism Department.
The banned Kangleipak Communist Party Military Council (KCP-MC) is strongly suspected to be behind the blast although the group has not claimed responsibility. The Manipur-based UG group KCP-MC had called for a general strike from 27 November till 1 December alleging that security forces were behind the disappearance of a KCP-MC cadre.
RK Suresh is a freelance journalist based in Imphal.
suhaschakma@achrweb.org |
