Imphal, Dec 15: Two separate incidents of bomb threats and suspected extortion led to sit-in- protests today.
In one incident, members of the Kakwa Pat Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd. staged a sit-in protest after a bomb was discovered at the gate of their secretary, RK Ranjan. The bomb, wrapped in paper, was found today, following a demand for Rs. 5 lakh made on December 12.
Chairman W Manglem, speaking at the protest, said, “We do not know which underground group is responsible. We immediately contacted Singjamei Police Station, and the bomb was collected by the police.” The members expressed their financial incapacity to meet the demand, citing heavy losses caused by recent floods that depleted their fish stock.
Today, a team of police personnel from Singjamei Police Station have collected the bomb from the residence of RK Rajan.
In a separate incident, a hand grenade was found near the residence of a Public Works Department (PWD) special contractor, Thokchom Sankar, in Kairang Makha Leikai, Imphal East. The grenade was discovered by early morning joggers around 6 am, accompanied by a warning note that read: “Who can save your family, Sankar?”
A police team from Heingang Police Station seized the grenade, suspecting the threat was linked to extortion. “The motive behind the threat and the identity of the perpetrators are yet to be determined,” said a district police officer.
