Imphal, Jun 28 : The Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) today owned up to the grenade attack at Ningthoukhong market yesterday and apologised for its action.
Ten people, including two minor girls, were injured when a China-made hand grenade hurled by three youths exploded in front of a group of protesters at the market in Bishnupur district of Manipur. In a statement, publicity and propaganda secretary in-charge Aheiba Angom admitted that the attack was a “big mistake” and assured the people that such an incident would not take place again.
Tension ran high in the district today with various citizens’ organisations and militant groups pouring scorn on the attackers. The market remained closed for the second consecutive day.
Earlier, a joint action committee formed by residents of the area gave the Okram Ibobi Singh government time till tomorrow to track down the attackers and punish them, failing which it had threatened to organise more protests. A blockade on the Imphal-Churachandpur road this morning was lifted after the police intervened.
Yesterday, shopkeepers and meira paibis (women activists) staged a sit-in at the local marketplace after members of the Prepak allegedly demanded mobile handsets from the shopkeepers.
Though there was no fresh trouble today, there was heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the market.
The shops, however, remained closed as the shopkeepers and meira paibis continued their sit-in protest.
The Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, United National Liberation Front and Prepak’s Chinglemba Mangang group had strongly condemned the attack.
Ethno Heritage Council, a rights group, termed the attack as an act of senseless violence.
The director-general of police, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, today said the police and security forces have been put on maximum alert in the four valley districts of the state to check movement of armed militants.
Ten people, including two minor girls, were injured when a China-made hand grenade hurled by three youths exploded in front of a group of protesters at the market in Bishnupur district of Manipur. In a statement, publicity and propaganda secretary in-charge Aheiba Angom admitted that the attack was a “big mistake” and assured the people that such an incident would not take place again.
Tension ran high in the district today with various citizens’ organisations and militant groups pouring scorn on the attackers. The market remained closed for the second consecutive day.
Earlier, a joint action committee formed by residents of the area gave the Okram Ibobi Singh government time till tomorrow to track down the attackers and punish them, failing which it had threatened to organise more protests. A blockade on the Imphal-Churachandpur road this morning was lifted after the police intervened.
Yesterday, shopkeepers and meira paibis (women activists) staged a sit-in at the local marketplace after members of the Prepak allegedly demanded mobile handsets from the shopkeepers.
Though there was no fresh trouble today, there was heavy deployment of security personnel in and around the market.
The shops, however, remained closed as the shopkeepers and meira paibis continued their sit-in protest.
The Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, United National Liberation Front and Prepak’s Chinglemba Mangang group had strongly condemned the attack.
Ethno Heritage Council, a rights group, termed the attack as an act of senseless violence.
The director-general of police, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, today said the police and security forces have been put on maximum alert in the four valley districts of the state to check movement of armed militants.
