Principal Correspondent
Kohima, April 16
At least three persons were injured, one seriously and a vehicle and a JCB were partially damaged in another blast occurring for the second consecutive day in Kohima today. Police said that the high intensity crude bomb was reportedly planted by unknown anti-social elements on the road side of National Highway-2 at Lerie Colony, about 50 meters before reaching Wednesday’s explosion site.
The crude bomb exploded when labourers were constructing a drainage using the JCB from the Kohima district administration, police said.
In the incident, three persons identified as mechanic Ebomcha Meitei, Sashi Ao, driver of a Scorpio jeep and Zayie-o Thapru, a resident of the area sustained splinter injuries.
The bucket of the JCB was also partially damaged by the impact of the blast while a moving Scorpio was also hit by splinters.
Ebomcha was injured seriously with splinters of the crude bomb, piercing into his ribs. He underwent an operation at a local hospital while Sashi has been kept under observation. Zayie-o was released after first aid.
Sources also said that after Wednesday’s blast, a team of bomb detection and disposal squad of Kohima police had thoroughly scanned the area while an Assam Rifles patrolling team had also conducted similar operation this morning before the blast but nothing was recovered.
The motive behind the explosions has not been ascertained but police are on the job to nab the culprits as a case has been registered under south police station here, sources added.
