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Manipur : Terrorist attack on Iskcon temple |
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Janamashtmi (birthday of Lord Krishna) celebrations in Manipur this year became an occasion for mourning when terrorists hurled a grenade at the Iskcon temple in Imphal killing at least five persons and injuring over 60 others.
According to police sources, a hand grenade of Chinese make hit the precincts of the temple, located near Imphal airport, and exploded around 7.30 p.m. The place was teeming with devotees, including foreigners, enjoying the Ras Lila performance when terror struck.
Maharaja Damodar, head of the Iskcon Society of Manipur, suffered minor injuries and was discharged from the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) after first aid. Among the injured were two Americans and three French nationals.
An Iskcon official said the bomb was lobbed from outside the temple campus. “There was chaos after the blast. People started running helter-skelter and there was little we could do about it,” he said.
Nearly 8,000 people were present on the temple campus at the time of the blast.
Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh visited the injured in the hospital. He condemned the attack and said his government would make every effort to nab the culprits and bring them to book.
The Chief Minister ruled out a security lapse, arguing that religious congregations had never been the target of attacks in the past. Neither Ibobi Singh nor the police hinted at the involvement of any militant group.
No individual or militant organisation has claimed responsibility for the terror strike on the temple. However, Government sources said investigation would be ordered to find out how militants infiltrated the complex where heavy security had been deployed.
Four of the major militant groups operating in Manipur have issued statements to end speculation about their involvement in the incident.
Rs 1 lakh reward for informer
Manipur police on August 18 announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the identification and arrest of those who bombed the Iskcon temple.
Announcing the cash reward for information leading to any arrest, police public relations officer Vandana Karki said the informer’s identity would be kept a secret.
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