Two powerful bombs were blasted simultaneously by suspected militants in Manipur's Imphal East and West districts on Republic Day. No casualties were reported in the blasts, police said.
One blast occurred at Hao Ground at Singjamei in Imphal West district, about 3 km from Imphal, at around 8:30am, while another one occurred at about the same time at Mantripukhri near 69 CRPF Battalion barrack in Imphal East district, police said.
The official Republic Day programme was held at Kangla, the old palace complex where Governor Najma Heptulla took the salute.
Serial Blasts by ULFA(I) on R-Day in Assam
Serial blasts by anti-talk ULFA (Independent) shook upper Assam on Thursday.
Bombs were detonated in Charaidow, Sibsagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, police said. There was, however, no report of any casualty or damage to property in the blasts.
The improvised explosive devices (IED) were of low intensity and exploded to register the presence of the militant outfit, police said.
In Dibrugarh town, the blast occurred 500 metres away from Chowkidingi Parade ground where the national flag was being unfurled at an official function.
Due to high security in the area, the militants threw the bomb into a drain near a tea garden where it went off, police said.
In Charaidow district, IEDs were exploded near a petrol pump at Dholbagan and at Bihu Bor. In neighbouring Sibsagar, two blasts took place at Lengibor and Majpani.
In Tinsukia district, the insurgents detonated two IEDs – one inside an empty water tank at Sisimi village and another near Dhola bridge in Sukan pukhuri area, the police said.
Tight security measures were in place for Republic Day, with patrolling by police and para-military forces in the vulnerable areas and at vital installations.
Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay sent a strong message to extremist outfits and said:
Asserting that Republic Day official functions across the state were held peacefully amid high security bandobast, the DGP said, "There was large participation of the public in the Republic Day functions. People's blessings are with us."
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the government will continue to fight insurgency and people of the state are united against it.
We accept the challenge of militants. We on our part will continue to be alert and security forces will continue with their operation against insurgents. Our security measures are in place and we will continue with the operations. There is no cause for concern. The blasts were of low intensity. They happened in abandoned places ... In tanks and open spaces. No one was injured.
“We will continue our fight against insurgency and the security forces are carrying out their operations against the militants. People of the state are united against militancy despite the militants triggering serial blasts in the state today,” he said.
People have given us a clear mandate that they are for peace in the state. They want a militancy-free Assam. No violence can affect people’s desire for peace. People across Assam will unitedly stand against violence.
(With inputs from PTI)
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