An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) found planted at the residence of one Sapam Romi at Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai in Imphal West was defused seconds before explosion in a timely intervention by the locals in the wee hours of Thursday.

The IED was found planted around 1.28 am at the residence of one Sapam Romi, 43, son of late S Ibobi of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai. The residence is located next to JK Enterprises (former Sapam Mill), Imphal West under Singjamei Police Station.

Condemning the incident, Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai Apunba Lup staged a sit-in-protest in front of Romi’s residence on Thursday.  

Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai Apunba Lup, secretary Sapam Diparani told the media on the sideline of the protest that the locals of the area strongly condemned the planting of such high intensity bombs in a densely populated area amid the crisis. She urged the state government to investigate the incident properly and that similar incidents should not occur again.

Responding to the Imphal Free Press, Diparani said planting of bombs, hurling of grenades and shooting at populated areas have been frequently occurring in the past few months. Such incidents have been occurring frequently due to the failure of law and order of the state, she said.

The government as caretaker of the people of Manipur should take necessary steps to prevent similar incidents in the near future.

Romi’s wife, Sapam ongbi Sanathoi said those miscreants should clarify why such a high intensity bomb was planted at her residence. Many lives could have been taken had the bomb exploded, she said, adding, any misunderstandings could be solved on a negotiating table instead of resorting to bomb threats.

It is learnt that Romi drives an electric rickshaw but temporarily stopped his services for the past few days due to mechanical issues in his commercial vehicle.

A local who discovered the bomb narrated that she was returning from a hospital where a relative had been admitted. She saw something burning when she was about to reach JK Enterprises, she said. She earlier thought that it was some mosquito repellent being burned by the meira paibis for ‘nisa bandh’ duties, but upon getting a closer look, she noticed something like a detonating cord was burning and immediately suspected that it could be a bomb.

She along with some other locals rushed to extinguish the burning cord with water and immediately reported to Singjamei Police Station.

A team of bomb disposal squad of CID (Tech) along with Singjamei Police rushed to the spot and deactivated the IED safely. The IED has been deposited at the custody of Singjamei Police Station.

Police reported that there were iron nails, iron balls, gunpowder and small pebbles which could be used as splinters inside the IED. The police team also seized about 3 metre long wire along with the IED.