Ibobi escapes unhurt as militants open fire

Bomb blast, protests prevent Manipur CM from opening hospital

Imphal, October 24 : Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh on Monday escaped unhurt when suspected militants opened gunfire as he was getting out of his helicopter at the Ukhrul helipad, CID officials said. A jawan of the Manipur Rifles was injured in the firing which took place when the Chief Minister stepped out of the helicopter and was being greeted by government officials, they said.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by his deputy Gaikhangam, Forest and Law Minister I Hemochandra, Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Health Minister DK Korungthang, Parliamentary Secretary Victor Keishing and Deputy Speaker Preshaw Shimray.
Ibobi Singh was prevented from inaugurating a district hospital in Ukhrul town after protesting tribals did not let him and his entourage move from the helipad.

The Chief Minister waited for an hour after landing at 9.30 am for crowds to assemble for the inauguration, and finding no one there, flew back to the state capital.

Security reasons also prompted Ibobi Singh not to stay beyond an hour at Ukhrul town, on the border with Myanmar, after a bomb blast early on Monday injured a police man and damaged part of the building where he was to speak. An incident of sniper firing in the area later left another security man injured.

Protesting tribals in the district of Ukhrul did not let Ibobi and his entourage to proceed from the helipad to Hundung for the inauguration of a district hospital and some other projects, including a power sub-station.

With an eye to the January assembly polls, Ibobi has been inaugurating a string of projects in the state.

The Tangkhul Naga Long group in Ukhrul was not amused since the 100-bed district hospital at Hundung is just half completed. When Ibobi Singh did not heed to its appeal not to inaugurate the half-complete hospital since a “public curfew” was imposed, they decided to block the movement of the Chief Minister.

When Ibobi Singh and his party landed at Ukhrul by chopper, it resembled a ghost town with all facilities shut and not a single soul sighted on the roads. Several men and women staged sit-in protests along the roads leading to Hundung, making it impossible for the Chief Minister to pass through.

Ibobi Singh, who landed at 9.30 am, waited till 10.30 a.m., and then decided to return to his office by the same chopper.

Earlier, a bomb blast took place at 12.30 am on Monday, injuring one Indian Reserve Batallion trooper and partially damaging the hall where Ibobi Singh was scheduled to speak to the people.

One constable of 6 Manipur Rifles was also wounded when some snipers opened fire to prevent the Chief Minister’s entourage from proceeding to the venue.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bomb blast or the sniper firing.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who holds Home portfolio, said the situation has been under control with the deployment of additional forces.

Strongly condemning the incident after attending a security meeting in the evening, Gaikhangam said the incident was not against the ministerial team but against the people of Manipur and the nation. The government at the Centre should also take up necessary steps, he added.

NPCC condemns

The NPCC has condemned the attempt on the life of Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Wednesday. The Congress believed that whatever differences may be there, they can be solved through dialogue, NPCC president K Therie said in a release.

Stating that taking a life will only multiply the problems and will not solve any issue, the NPCC said surely, no one can rest in peace by taking another’s life. “The Ceasefire should be complete and not partial. When we don’t have Ceasefire with our own people, there is no meaning in having Ceasefire. Every citizen should abide by total Ceasefire,” the Congress said.

The party thanked Almighty God for providentially saving both Ibobi Singh and his deputy Gaikhangam Gangmei from the unseen perils.