At least two people were killed and another two were seriously injured in a powerful bomb blast at a shop in Viewland, Ukhrul at around 5. 30 pm yesterday. The blast took place at Neetu Glass & Hardware Store.The two deceased have been identified as Miss Lansophy Tangvah (23 yrs) daughter of W. Tangvah of Nungbi Khullen Village, Ukhrul District, Manipur and her aunt Miss AS. Dinah, former President of Tangkhul Shanao Long. AS Dinah succumb to her injury on the way to hospital while Tangvah died on the spot. Both suffered multiple shrapnel injuries on the faces and necks.The other two injured have been identified as the proprietor of the shop Mr. Rajendra Chaudhury and his salesman. Rajendra suffered multiple shrapnel injuries on both his legs whereas the salesman was hit by shrapnel on the chest. They are being treated at CHSRC and are said to be out of danger.According to witnesses, Miss Lansophy and Miss Dinah were passing by the shop when the bomb exploded.Even as no group has claimed responsibility for the blast, source suspects the blasts to have been planted by rebel group MNPF. It added that the said group had served monetary demand of rupees 30 lakhs from the shop owner some months back. The Shop owner had reportedly negotiated the amount to rupees 25 lakhs but the matter was still to resolved.Protesting the blast Tangkhul Sonaolung and other Tangkhul frontal bodies had called a total shut down in Ukhrul town. Almost all shops and business establishment in Ukhrul town including schools and colleges remain closed today.Meanwhile United Naga Council has expressed strong condemnation to the dastardly act of bomb blast at Ukhrul town on the evening of 17th September, 2014 which claimed the innocent lives of Ms. Sosonao Tangva, daughter of Wungpam and Mrs. AS Dinah, former president of Tangkhul Shanao Long, both of Nungbi Khullen.In a press statement the UNC said, “A young girl, full of plans and promises for the future and a valued member of the community, who had given leadership to society in her time have fallen prey to an act of terrorism, which is alien to Naga culture and way of life.“At this time of hard earned peace when the entire Naga people are in expectant hope for peaceful settlement of the Indo-Naga issue, any form of terrorism, be it by state or non state actor, is most condemnable.“By the death of Sosonao and Dinah in innocence, we are reminded of the tremendous challenge before our people to fight extremism and acts of terrorism which is raising its sinister head in our society. It is a clarion call for collective vigilance and the conscientious involvement of each and every Naga to weed out such destructive acts and perpetrators from our society.”The UNC further appeal to all and sundry to eschew such inhuman acts and crimes against humanity.
