Manipur CM survives attempt on life

Imphal, Sep 2: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh escaped a bid on his life when militants lobbed a bomb at his official residence last night.

In the wake of the incident, unprecedented security arrangements were taken up today in and around Mr Singh's official residence.

However, police said there were no reports of any injuries in yesterday's attack, which was the second such attack on the Chief Minister's residence.

The Chief Minister's residential complex is adjacent to National Highway 39 at Imphal and the bomb was probably hurled from the eastern side, they added.

The bomb landed near the office of the Chief Minister and a crater was formed by the impact.

As it was late in night, there was no one around and hence no casualty was reported. Mr Singh was inside his residence at the time of the attack.

Meanwhile, the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Aheiba Angom of the Publicity Department of the outfit said the attack was launched by a ''special task force as a warning to the Chief Minister''.

More such attacks would follow, it was further stated.

The entry of all vehicles towards the direction of the Chief Minister's residence was totally banned from today.

Vehicles coming along NH-39 were being diverted and the personnel of the 143rd Battalion of the CRPF are posted inside and outside the Chief Minister's residence.

DGP Y Joykumar and other senior police and civil officials inspected the area where the bomb was hurled.

Police said a major search operation was launched to nab those responsible for the attack. However, no arrests had been made so far.

UNI