A powerful IED exploded inside the compound of district forest divisional office at Phungreitang in Ukhrul town on Saturday night, sources said.
An election observer, police and an expenditure observer are currently stationed at the Forest guest house.
The sources said that the explosion occurred near the quarter of a peon around 8:45 pm. A crater about 1 foot in diameter was created by the blast and the impact of the explosion damaged a toilet and window panes. No casualties were reported in the explosion.
Whether the explosion has direct or indirect relationship to hinder the ensuing state general assembly elections or a case of monetary demand could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
The Ukhrul police informed that one vehicle passed the office campus from the eastern side just before the blast occurred. The movement of the said vehicle was captured on CCTV camera.
Following the development, a team of Ukhrul police led by the additional SP (operation) rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
The Ukhrul police sealed the whole campus and deployed security forces in all four corners for ensuring the safety of stationed election observers, staff and the residents of the area.
Meanwhile, Tangkhul CSOs, namely Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), TNWL, TKS, TSL, TMNL, and four Zonal chairmen strongly condemned the bomb attack at Ukhrul town.
A team of CSOs led by TNL president David Shimray visited the site. They condemned the inhumane act of creating fear psychosis in the minds of the populace and appealed to desist from repeating such incidents in the future. No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
