Guwahati: A powerful bomb exploded at the residence of Manipur Minister for Veterinary & Animal Husbandry and Transport, Khashim Vashum, in Ukhrul’s Hamleikhong area on Saturday night.
Fortunately, the minister, a member of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), was not present at the time.
Local police immediately rushed to the spot and are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the blast. No casualties have been reported so far.
This latest attack comes amidst escalating tensions in Manipur, which has been grappling with unrest for several months. The incident has further fueled public anger and fear in the state.
In a separate development, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), formed in response to the tragic Kakwa Naorem Leikai incident, has called for a 24-hour general strike starting from midnight on Saturday.
This decision was made in protest against the death of an unborn baby after tear gas fired by police near the residence of a pregnant woman, Sanjita Devi, caused severe health complications.
On September 11, Sanjita Devi, nine months pregnant, suffered from dangerously high blood pressure after a tear gas canister exploded just 10 feet away from her home.
Despite being rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), doctors were unable to save her unborn child. Sanjita remains in critical condition in the ICU.
The death of the unborn child sparked widespread protests across the state, with demonstrators blocking major roads, including the Indo-Myanmar Highway.
Violent clashes between protesters and security forces have been reported, with crowds pelting stones at police, who have responded with more tear gas. The unrest has prompted the government to deploy additional security forces and enforce stricter curfews.
The protests follow two days of relative calm in Imphal, a city already grappling with months of unrest.