3 labourers killed in Imphal blast

NST bus conductor from Wokha district among four injured

Our Correspondent IMPHAL, December 21 Three non-local labourers were killed while four others sustained serious injuries in a powerful bomb explosion here on Sunday morning. Among the injured was a Nagaland State Transport bus conductor identified as C Lotha (50) from Wokha district. The incident took place when people began their day’s work at Khoyathong bus parking located less than a kilometre away from city police station but lies under Imphal police station at around 6 am in the morning, source said. The other three injured persons, believed to non-local labourers, have been identified as Surendar (20), Rajkumar (30) and Lorik (58), all from Uttar Pradesh and were living at Khoyathong area in Imphal. All the injured have been rushed to Regional Institute of Medical Science. The condition of some the injured are stated to be critical. "It was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast. One died on the spot while two succumbed to injuries in hospital,” a senior Manipur police official said when contacted on phone soon after the incident. Four others were also injured, he said. The deceased have been identified as Shiv Yadav (35), Lallan (36) and Srikushun (60), all from UP. Immediately after the incident, top Manipur police officials rushed to the explosion site to start investigation besides taking steps to nab the suspects involved in the incident. But, there is no report of any arrest till the time of filing of this report. At the same time, no armed group operating in the region has claimed responsibility for the blast. Meanwhile, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam accompanied by Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu and DGP Saheed Ahmed visited the injured persons at RIMS hospital and termed the incident an act of ‘cowardice’. Speaking to media persons at the site of the incident, Gaikhangam, who holds the Home portfolio, said such kind of act can be committed by those people who have no future. Assuring that the government will provide necessary compensation to the victims’ families, he also termed the incident as unfortunate. This is the second incident of its kind in a week in the state. On December 15 morning, two betel nut leaves sellers were killed while four others, including a milkman from Thoubal, were injured when unidentified miscreants exploded an IED at MG Avenue betel leaves selling junction in Imphal.