Singjamei residents stage sit-in protest against bomb blast at Minister Khemchand’s house

Newmai News Network

Imphal: Locals of the Singjamei area of Imphal West district on Sunday staged a sit-in-protest denouncing a bomb blast at the gate of the private residence of Manipur Rural Development and Panchayati Raj minister Y Khemchand on Saturday night.

Two persons – a CRPF personnel and a 24-year-old girl were injured by the splinters of the bomb blast at the gate of the minister’s residence at Singjamei Yumnam Leikai under Imphal police station last night, around 10 pm.

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The injured girl was identified as Purnilesha Yumnam (24) daughter of Y Leader, a brother of minister Khemchand of Yumnam Leikai. She sustained splinter injuries to her left foot.

The injured CRPF was identified as sub-inspector Dineshchandra Das (57) from West Bengal. He was on duty at the gate of the minister at the time of triggering the blast. He sustained splinter injuries to his right hand.

Two motorcycle-borne miscreants reportedly hurled the bomb toward the minister’s residence. Eyewitnesses said both the miscreants covered their faces with clothes and wore helmets.

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They hurled the bomb suspected to be a hand grenade towards the main gate of the minister. The bomb hit an electric post, around five metres away from the main gate, before it exploded.

Top officials of the Police department and teams of Imphal police station and Singjamei police station rushed to the spot soon after the blast to take stock of the situation.

Chief minister N Biren Singh also visited the minister’s residence last night. While strongly condemning the bomb attack at the minister’s residence, the chief minister assured that the perpetrators would be brought to justice at the earliest.

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Minister Y Khemchand who was at his residence at the time of the blast said he had no idea who was behind the bomb attack.

Denouncing the bomb attack, locals of Singjamei Yumnam Leikai today staged a sit-in protest in their locality.

Talking to reporters, a leader of Yumnam Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup strongly condemned the triggering of the bomb in the thickly populated area.

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It was fortunate that no one was nearby when the blast took place. Otherwise, there would have been several casualties, she said.

She demanded clarification of any of the underground groups operating in the state behind the blast. She added that if there is any difference with the minister, it should be settled through dialogue.

At the same time, she pressed the government to book the culprits and award befitting punishment.

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