(Photo source: Manipur Police)
Imphal, January 9 (IANS): Unidentified miscreants hurled a bomb near a fuel station in Manipur’s Bishnupur district, triggering an explosion. No injuries or damage were reported in the incident, officials said on Friday.
A police official said that unidentified miscreants riding a two-wheeler threw the bomb near a fuel station at Moirang Thana Leikai in Bishnupur district on Thursday night, causing an explosion. Though the police launched an investigation and search immediately after the blast, but no one has been arrested so far.
Police personnel are also examining the CCTV camera footage from the area to get clues about the incident.
Soon after the incident a sit-in protest was staged at the petrol pump area by the staff of the fuel station and local people.
Last month, petrol pump owners in Manipur had threatened to shut down their operations after receiving extortion-related threats and recovery of a hand grenade from the toilet of a petrol pump at Koirengei in Imphal East district.
The explosive device was reportedly concealed along with a letter warning of dire consequences if the demands of a particular group were not fulfilled.
In a statement on December 22, the Manipur Petroleum Dealers Association claimed that despite submitting a memorandum to the Governor regarding frequent bomb threats, extortion and exorbitant monetary demands, no action had been taken by the administration.
The Manipur Police earlier said they would further strengthen the anti-extortion mechanism to thwart threats to traders, contractors, government officials and owners of petrol pumps across the state.
A police official had said the decision was taken at a meeting between senior police officials and the Petroleum Dealers Association, Manipur. During the meeting, it was decided to review the existing security arrangements at Retail Outlets (ROs) dealing with petroleum products, including petrol pumps.
Additional security measures will be implemented, including the vetting of all employees working at ROs.
Mobile police teams will also be deployed at strategic locations to ensure the safety of fuel outlets, the official said. Petrol pump owners said that fuel outlets provide essential public services and should not be targeted by any group or individual with malicious intent.
They told the media that repeated threats had forced them to shut down their outlets recently as a precautionary measure. The association also appealed to the state government and authorities to take firm action against armed miscreants involved in extortion and to ensure adequate security for fuel station operators across Manipur.
Meanwhile, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) N. Ashok Kumar in a statement on Friday said that the state government had set up an Integrated Anti-Extortion Cell on January 26 last year within the Home Department.
This unit brings together members from the state Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Assam Rifles, Indian Army to work in unison against extortion activities across the state.
For public reporting, a toll-free helpline of the Anti-Extortion Cell is available 24/7. Citizens can use it to report any extortion threats from calls, messages, letters, or other sources, the statement said.
Ashok Kumar said that everyone, including government employees, are encouraged to promptly report such incidents and cooperate fully with the authorities.
The Integrated Anti-Extortion Cell will respond quickly by coordinating with relevant police stations and security forces to take effective measures.
“The Manipur government remains strongly committed to upholding law and order and seeks ongoing public collaboration to combat extortion and related crimes,” the official said.
--IANS
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