The Meitei Pangal Intellectual Forum (MPIF), Bishnupur district vehemently condemned the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) blast, stating the attack was intentionally targeted on crowded civilians and those responsible for the attack should clarify within 48 hours.
The blast occurred at the southern side of Kwakta on the Bridge near Ward No IX around 7 pm on Wednesday. The car bomb was fitted in a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle. Four persons sustained injuries in the blast of which, one is being treated in an ICU.
Following the blast, a public meeting was held at Kwakta Bazar under the aegis of MPIF on Thursday.
The meeting strongly condemned the attack, resulting in the injury of four persons and causing damages to nearby houses.
The meeting stated that the attack was intended to cause maximum casualty and threat to the people, as the blast occurred in a crowded area particularly of the Meitei Pangal community which is not involved in the conflict. The meeting appealed to not to cause any further incidents.
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The public meeting also demanded that whoever was behind the blast should clarify within 48 hours.
From the spot inquiry, it was confirmed that the children among the injured were returning from a Madrassa after taking Arabic lessons. A forensic team and bomb experts of the Assam Rifles conducted a verification and spot investigation.
Meanwhile, an argument broke out between AR personnel and Moirang assembly constituency MLA Th Shanti who objected to the AR for blocking the road on both sides of the bridge with their vehicles. The AR was further alleged of conducting the spot investigation without showing any concern for the police personnel.
MLA Shanti told the media that the attack was aimed at the civilians that too in a crowded area. Terming the incident an act of terrorists, he further expressed strong condemnations.
He further narrated that as he was coming to the blast area, the vehicles of AR personnel were found blocking the road; therefore, he asked them to remove the roadblock. He further said that as an enquiry was requested from the state police, the AR should conduct the spot investigation with the state police.
Meitei-Pangal Intellectual Forum general secretary Rafi Shah expressed concern over the conflict between two communities and its larger impact upon all communities of Manipur. He appealed to all communities to help douse the conflict and try to bring peace in the state.
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Lamenting the shortage of media coverage, Rafi said that Kwakta, Moirang is the first place where camps for stranded people from Churachandpur were provided.
Even at midnight, people of Kwakta ran here and there for their safety and built two relief camps for stranded people. But no media persons came to provide coverage to the Kwakta people’s shortage and disadvantages, he mentioned.
Not only the media, even the Civil Society Organisations of Manipur ignored the relief camps of Kwakta, he added.
