IMPHAL: A powerful bomb exploded at the Public Works Department (PWD) office building located in the heart of Imphal, injuring three staffers, including a woman on Wednesday.
Additional Deputy General of Police (ADGP) V.Jathang who was at the site told the media that they believed the blast was caused by a very powerful time-bomb which was put inside a dustbin.
“As of now, we don’t have any suspect responsible for the blast but investigation is underway to ascertain who was behind the act”, the police officer said when asked to comment on the identity of the suspects who might have carried out the blast.
The explosion took place at around 1:30 pm. All of a sudden a powerful bomb blasted inside a room on the second floor of the PWD building which houses the rooms of Assistant Engineers of Thoubal, Ukhrul and Churanchandpur districts.
Three staffers, including a woman were wounded in the blast. The injured were rushed to the RIMS hospital and Raj Polyclinic private hospital here. One of them is stated to be in critical condition.
The walls and ceiling of the office room, including the window glass panes of the first floor and second floor of the building were extensively damaged due to the powerful impact of the explosion.
The injured have been indentified as Haorungbam Nirmala (27) of Sagolband Sayang, Y. Yaima from Khongman in Imphal east and Md Manal from Lilong Leihaokhong, Thoubal district.
Sources said the blast occurred at a high security zone manned by a company of CRPF, including three personnel of the CID and another eight Home guard personnel.
State police and Central Paramilitary forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the area minutes after the blast and conducted a massive search operation inside the PWD campus. But there was no report of any arrest in connection with the incident.
Besides ADGP Jathang, Works minister K. Ranjit, DGP Y. Joykumar, Imphal West DIG, SP in-charge were also visited the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and the motive behind the blast is not known. A powerful bomb which police said an IED was exploded right in front of the main gate of the Sangai Festival 2011 here on November 30 last causing one dead and four other injured. (NNN)