Imphal, March 27: A day after a grenade explosion wounded 12-year-old Thongram Jekojit, the residents of Mayengbam Leikai of Imphal West today slammed the government and those responsible for the blast.
Jekojit sustained splinter injuries on the right side of his face and thigh when a grenade exploded in front of a shop last evening.
The boy, undergoing treatment at Langol View Clinic in Imphal West, is stable.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast. “The bomb could have killed many people at the time. It is because of sheer luck that Jekojit survived the blast. We condemn the incident,” Sanatombi Devi, an aunt of the boy, said.
She alleged that the incident took place because of security lapses.
“Those responsible for it should issue a clarification to the people on why they hurt a minor boy by exploding a bomb in a crowded place. The government should take up measures to prevent such incidents,” she said.
The residents said no one knew what happened, as people present there were busy shopping and returning to their homes.
The residents said a security vehicle had passed the area shortly before the blast.
“We cannot not say whether it was an attack on the security convoy or the bomb fell on the convoy or the perpetrators exploded the grenade to target civilians,” another resident said.
The site of the blast is very close to a fuel pump. However, officials ruled out the possibility of the pump being the target, as the owner did not have any dispute with any armed group and had not received monetary demands from any militant group.
Women of Mayengbam Leikai today staged a sit-in near the site of the explosion to condemn the incident. Most shops near the site of the blast remained closed.
Jekojit sustained splinter injuries on the right side of his face and thigh when a grenade exploded in front of a shop last evening.
The boy, undergoing treatment at Langol View Clinic in Imphal West, is stable.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast. “The bomb could have killed many people at the time. It is because of sheer luck that Jekojit survived the blast. We condemn the incident,” Sanatombi Devi, an aunt of the boy, said.
She alleged that the incident took place because of security lapses.
“Those responsible for it should issue a clarification to the people on why they hurt a minor boy by exploding a bomb in a crowded place. The government should take up measures to prevent such incidents,” she said.
The residents said no one knew what happened, as people present there were busy shopping and returning to their homes.
The residents said a security vehicle had passed the area shortly before the blast.
“We cannot not say whether it was an attack on the security convoy or the bomb fell on the convoy or the perpetrators exploded the grenade to target civilians,” another resident said.
The site of the blast is very close to a fuel pump. However, officials ruled out the possibility of the pump being the target, as the owner did not have any dispute with any armed group and had not received monetary demands from any militant group.
Women of Mayengbam Leikai today staged a sit-in near the site of the explosion to condemn the incident. Most shops near the site of the blast remained closed.
