A powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by miscreants exploded at the entrance of the road connecting Thiyam from Waithou Market under Lilong Police Station in Thoubal district around 11.45 pm on Saturday.
The blast caused damages to two JCBs, a Tata Tipper and a Maruti Swift which were parked nearby.
According to police, the IED might have been kept hidden inside the bucket loader of a JCB (AS01MC-4631) that was parked near the gate of one Ningthoujam Ranjit, 61, son of late Chinglen at Waithou Market.
The mirror of another JCB (AS01MC-1374) parked nearby was shattered by the blast. The back windshields of a Tata Tripper (MN03- 1516) and Maruti Swift VXI (MN06 LA--2235) parked nearby the blast also received damages.
Both the JCBs and the Tata Tipper belonged to one Mutum Ajitkumar, 51, son of late Iboyai from Waithou Keithel. He is a retired personnel of Assam Rifles.
The Maruti Swift was owned by one Huidrom Dinesh, 30, son of Ibochouba who is from Waithou market, as per police sources.
In connection with the incident, Lilong police registered a case and investigations have been launched to arrest the culprits behind the blast.
In the meantime, local meira paibis of Waithou Market staged a sit-in protest, condemning the IED blast in a populated area.
The protesters displayed placards that read: ‘We condemn blasts at populated area’, ‘punish the culprits involved’, ‘Those involved behind the blast must claim responsibility', etc.
