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Journalism of Courage
With just three days to go before the state goes to polls on Saturday,and on the eve of the Republic Day,twin blasts rocked Imphal. The blasts occurred in front of Singjamei police station at 6:40 pm,injuring a woman. The police have recovered two IEDs. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
While investigations are on,earlier on Wednesday the coordination committee of seven underground groups called for a statewide bandh on Thursday,asking people to boycott the Republic Day celebrations. The police said they suspect IEDs have been planted across the city and have deputed teams to search bombs till late Wednesday night. They added that the blasts were probably aimed at creating panic rather than actual damage.
Incidentally,it was in the same area in Singjamei that a blast had occurred on Sunday in front of the Manipur Speakers residence. Speaker I Hemochandra had said that the blast was politically motivated and aimed at his campaign.
A series of such incidents have taken place over the past month in Imphal. Congress offices have been targeted after an underground group had banned the party from contesting the elections. The Congress has conducted a very low-key campaign and not a single Congress flag or banner has been strung anywhere in the capital city.
