NIA takes over probe into Manipur IED blast
NIA’s involvement in the blast comes at a time the northeastern state has been roiled by ethnic clashes since May 3, leaving 131 people dead so far
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over a probe into an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Manipur’s Bishnupur district on June 21, in which three people, including two minors, were injured, officials said on Wednesday.
The anti-terror probe agency’s involvement in the blast comes at a time the northeastern state has been roiled by ethnic clashes since May 3, leaving 131 people dead so far.
Last week, the ministry of home affairs had ordered an NIA probe into the blast amid concerns that the incident may have major security ramifications and possible attempts to hinder movement of security forces and the army to maintain law and order and in the state.
The IED blast took place around 7.15pm on June 21 in a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle that was parked on a bridge adjoining the areas of Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai and Kwakta, along Tiddim road, in Bishnupur. According to people familiar with the matter, eyewitnesses claimed the explosion took place minutes after the driver got out after parking the vehicle.
NIA took over the investigation on June 23. In its FIR, which was made available on Wednesday and subsequently seen by HT, the agency said the IED was placed inside the Mahindra Scorpio by “some unknown miscreants suspected to be militants”.
A senior officer, who did not wish to be named, said “the details about the insurgents involved in the blast are being gathered”.
“There are intelligence inputs that insurgent groups might be taking advantage of the violence in Manipur,” the officer said.
Three people – Mohammad Albash (15), Mohammad Alfas (11) and Mohammad Yunus (18) – were injured while a portion of the bridge was damaged in the explosion. The people cited above said that the bridge connects Bishnupur and Churachandpur, one of the worst-affected districts in the violence.
