Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, November 29
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n 11-year-old boy was killed in a bomb explosion ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit in Manipur today.
The incident took place when Wajajuddin,a class II student, was passing the Sagol Loukon paddy field in Lilong area, barely 300 metres west of the Lilong Police station and 40 battalion Assam Rifles post around 9.30 in the morning, police said.
Police sources said that the bomb could be an IED (improvised explosive device). The police team who rushed to the explosion site could not recover any kind of splinter of the bomb at the explosion site,sources added. Suspecting hands of militants in planting the bomb, the police said they’ve started investigation into the incident.
Soon after the incident additional security forces have rushed to the explosion o oversee the situation.Local MLA Md Abdul Nasir also visited the site.So far no militant groups have claimed responsibility for the incident till the report goes to the press. Meanwhile locals of the Lilong area in a meeting strongly condemned the incident demanded immediate action from the government by vacating the existing Assam Rifles post from the area.The meeting also demand clarification from the concerned parties over the incident.The family and locals are yet to claim the dead body of the boy.
Saturday’s explosion took place in Thoubal district about 15 km south west of Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre(BOAT) in Imphal where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the closing function of the 10 day Manipur Sangai Festival, biggest tourism carnival named after rare brow-antlered deer available at Keibul Lamjao, India’s only floating national park in Bishnupur district.
Meanwhile security has been beefed up in and around Imphal town in view of Narendra Modi’s maiden visit to the state after becoming Prime Minister. Official sources in Imphal said, Manipur Governor KK Paul,Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh accompanied by industries minister K Gobindas, Chief secretary PC Lawmkunga will receive the Prime Minister when he arrives around 2.55 pm at Tulihal airport and drove straight to BOAT to address the closing function of Sangai Festival. Prime Minister will be welcome by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam led state team at BOAT. Modi is also scheduled to visit Bharatiya Janata Party state unit office at Keishampat before leaving for Dimapur in Nagaland by a special aircraft around 5pm.
Condemning Modi’s visit to Manipur for suppressing the people of the region by using draconian laws, the Coordination committee of six major armed groups in Manipur popularly known as CorCom had called 24 hour curfew across the state during Modi’s visit to Manipur. The curfew will effect from intervening midnight of August 29 and 30.
