A bomb blast in Manipur’s Ukhrul district yesterday evening killed two, injuring two others. The blast took place in front of Neetu Glass and Hardware store in Viewland colony in Ukhrul town. Ukhrul town is the district headquarters. “We are yet to determine the nature of the bomb but we think it could have been an improvised explosive device. It was a busy time when many people were returning home, including the two deceased who just happened to be passing the area,’’ said acting SP Ukhrul Worngam Ningshen. Ningshen said that while no group had claimed responsibility for the blast yet, the police had ruled out the NSCN IM as being responsible and thought that one of the other underground groups was responsible for the blast. “So far investigations show that the bomb was probably planted as a threat for monetary extortion. It has nothing to do with the recent violence or incidents which have taken place in Ukhrul,’’said Ningshen. Local organisations in Ukhrul called a total bandh today in protest of the blast.
