Blast at ISKCON temple in Imphal leaves three dead

Imphal, Aug 16 (UNI) Three people were killed and seventeen, including two foreigners, seriously injured, when a powerful hand grenade was lobbed at a congregation at the ISKCON temple complex during Janmashtami prayers this evening. ''A powerful Chinese made hand grenade was hurled in front of the Lord Krishna temple at ISKCON complex at 1900 hrs when people were offering prayers,'' said Imphal Superintendent of Police Clay Khongsai.

Two foreigners and an ISKCON official were among those injured.

The injured were taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and other local hospitals where the condition of ten, including some women, was stated to be critical.

Chaos prevailed in the hospital where relatives and friends of the victims gathered to know the state of their kin.

Meanwhile, All Manipur Student's Union has condemned the blast.

Police cordoned off the area and launched a massive combing operation to nab the miscreants.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

UNI NS SP PL MSJ DB2248