Special Correspondence
Ukhrul, August 9:
News portal The Dawn Tantak has stood by its report on the discovery of a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a forested area near Sikibung, stating that the incident was officially recorded by Litan Police and that an enquiry is underway to establish the source and circumstances of the device.
The clarification came in response to a statement issued by the Department of Information and Media, WCKCSOs-Ukhrul, which had challenged the report and sought evidence regarding the alleged origin of the explosive device.
According to The Dawn Tantak, information about the suspected IED was received by Litan Police on August 7 after villagers reportedly detected a suspicious object while searching for bee or hornet hives in a forest area around three kilometres south of Litan Police Station.
A police team, accompanied by personnel of 164 “D” Company, BSF, and bomb-disposal experts, reached the site, secured the area and neutralised the suspected device in situ at around 4 pm, it said.
The portal cited an official police record stating that no incriminating material or identifiable splinters were recovered from the demolition site and that a General Diary entry was made under GD No. 09/LTN-PS/2026 dated August 7, 2026. The record also states that an enquiry has been initiated to ascertain the source and circumstances of the device.
The Dawn Tantak clarified that its original report did not claim that the origin of the device had been conclusively established. It said references to its alleged origin were explicitly attributed to local sources and qualified accordingly.
The portal maintained that reporting the discovery and neutralisation of an explosive device is distinct from determining who placed or fired it, which remains a matter for investigation.
It said it would report any findings of the official enquiry, including if they establish an origin different from that indicated in its original report.
The portal also appealed to all concerned to refrain from drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed, stressing that civilian safety and evidence-based accountability should take precedence over competing narratives.
It reiterated its commitment to correcting any factual error established by competent authorities, while maintaining that the reported incident itself is supported by an official police record.
