IMPHAL, Aug 1 � A powerful bomb exploded at the busy Sangakpham Bazar here around 1.50 pm today claiming five lives including two girls, besides injuring 10 others.
The blast took place 15 hours after a bomb explosion rocked the Singjamei locality in Imphal West district without any casualty.
The bomb was suspected to have been fitted to a two-wheeler at the busy Sangakpham Bazar under Heingang Police station under Imphal East district. Suspecting hands of militants behind the blast, Police has registered a case and investigation is on.
Y Joykumar Singh, Director General Police, who rushed to the spot soon after, told the reporters that police is trying to find out the details of the incident. He said, �We cannot say anything as of now as we are examining it�.
He, however, hinted that it was an IED (improvised explosive device) blast.
The blast site was strewn with mangled and mutilated bodies and blood and human flesh was scattered all over when this reporter arrived at the spot which is about 3 kms away from the State police headquarters.
The injured were evacuated to nearby hospitals soon after the blast. Police recovered three mutilated bodies from a saloon and two others from in front of a grocery shop.
Monday�s incident was the second blast of such magnitude in the border State after Ragailong blast (October 21, 2008) which claimed 17 lives.
Late Sunday night (around 10.05pm), a powerful explosion took place at the foothill of Singjamei Chinga hillock where a post of 28 Assam Rifles is located. Protesting the incident, Singjamei Chingamakhong residents staged a sit-in demonstration today.
So far, no militant groups have claimed the responsibility for the blasts till filing of this report.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh along with Irrigation and Flood Control Minister N Biren and MLA Bijoy Koijam also visited the blast site.
Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat and the Chief Minister have condemned the blast at Sangakpham market.
