According to the police one of the alleged militant is ward development member from ward no 4, Imphal municipal council.
Informing mediapersons about the arrest of the two, Lamphel police OC Ingoucha held a press briefing at his office this evening.
The police officer informed that the two on further interrogation admitted to throwing a hand grenade at RIMS. The two also said that they were trying to throw the grenade past the walls of RIMS however, the grenade failed to cross inside and exploded near them damaging their car.
Further speaking to media persons, the police officer identified the two alleged militants as Ayekpam Winnie, 27, son of A Ibohal of Uripok Tourambem Leikai, a ward development member from ward no. 4, IMC and Okram Subash, 27, son of O Ibopisak of Langol Housing complex type 2, who is currently working at Zens Brother, a mobile repairing shop, near D.C. office, Lamphel.
Further briefing the mediapersons, the OC stated that a team of Lamphel police on routine frisking duty in front of the DC office Lamphelpat on Sunday evening in connection with the counting of votes were alerted by the sound of a bomb blast coming from the direction of RIMS at around 10:40pm Sunday night.
Soon after around 10:45pm, ASI Romesh halted two persons on a Maruti 800 bearing regd no MN01X 2988 on suspicions. The car had small dents on its left side, as if hit by grenade splinters and the windshield was also broken. The left side tyre of the car was also punctured which only strengthen the suspicion of the police, the police officer informed.
On further spot enquiry, the two replied that they were coming from RIMS after taking an emergency blood test, however not convinced with their reply, the ASI informed his superiors who came and picked the two up for further questioning.
On further questioning, the two disclosed that they were working under the instruction of a person, whom they identified as James from Keishampat a PREPAK-PRO activist, the officer informed mediapersons.
They further told the police that, they have known James since about only two or three months back, the police officer briefed.
He further added that two hand grenades were further recovered from the two.
One of the arrested person, Okram Subhash revealed that they have been hiding the three hand grenades including the one which exploded at RIMS on Sunday night at one of his neighbour’s garbage dumping place after putting them inside a gunny bag without the knowledge of his neighbor, the police officer further informed.
