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Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 23 (EMN): A minor girl was injured when a bomb, believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED), exploded in Imphal, Manipur, on Thursday morning, hours before the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day celebration, sources said.
The incident took place near an electricity pole along the Nagamapal-RIMS road in Imphal West district at around 5 am, badly damaging the doors, shutters, interiors and sun-shed roofs of many shops located on both sides of the road by the impact of the explosion.
The victim, a minor girl identified as one Mardhya Wangkhem who is currently staying at a boarding of a coaching centre, sustained injury in the blast. However, she has been reportedly discharged from the hospital after receiving necessary treatment.
The blast happened despite the state government beefing up security in view of the Republic Day celebration on January 26.
The top police officers, including the superintendent of police of Imphal West district visited the blast site and conducted an investigation into the incident. The police suspected hands of armed militants for the incident but no arrest has been made in connection with the incident.
No armed group has claimed responsibility for explosion till the time of filing this report.
It may be mentioned that the many insurgent groups, including groups under Manipur's Co-ordination Committee or CorCom and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have jointly called for a boycott of Republic Day celebration and a shutdown (emergency services exempted) in the region from 12 am on January 25 to 6 pm, January 26. Six other insurgent groups in Northeast region have also called for a shutdown from 6 am to 6 pm on Republic Day.