Blast rocks Imphal, no casualty

IMPHAL, October 29: Despite heavy security measures in and around the busy Imphal town, a bomb, believed to be an improvised explosive device, explosion rocked the State capital on the eve of Diwali on Saturday. There was no casualty during the explosion, sources said. The incident took place at a lane located between two shops - Gupta Auto Company and Jaiswal store, an incense dealer at MG Avenue - barely 100 meters away from the City police station in Imphal around 7.30 am, police said. The blast occurred when the people shopkeepers started to open their shops for the day while the shoppers started to rush towards Khwairamband Keithel, the main market areas in Imphal for Diwali and Ningol Chakkouba shopping. Both walls of the lane, glass windows of the first floor of the building besides a red colour Hundai Verna car (MN014-0999) were damaged in the impact of the explosion, police said. Soon after the explosion, Imphal West district police and State bomb experts rushed to the blast site and inspected the area. They also checked presence of other bombs in the area while the City police station registered a case for further investigation, police source added. No armed groups operating in the state claimed responsibility for the day’s explosion, they said. The police have also not made any arrest in this connection. Following today’s incident tight security measures have been taken up in Imphal city.