Bomb Blast at Manipur MLA's Residence; CM Calls It 'Attack on Democracy'

An explosion struck the residence of Manipur MLA and state government spokesperson Sapam Ranjan Singh in the Konthoujam Mayai Leikai area of Imphal West in the early hours of Friday. The blast, which occurred around 1:30 am, caused panic in the densely populated residential neighbourhood but resulted in no injuries, according to the legislator.

Singh stated that there had been no prior threat against him and that he holds no personal enmity with anyone, making the motive behind the attack unclear. He questioned the purpose of such acts of violence, noting that they only serve to instil fear and insecurity among ordinary citizens without any constructive outcome.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited the MLA's residence following the incident to assess the situation. He strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a "senseless and barbaric" act against a people's representative. The Chief Minister asserted that the violence constitutes an attack on democracy and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

Local Meira Paibis (traditional women's vigilante groups) staged a sit-in protest at the residence, condemning the blast and demanding immediate government action. Protesters highlighted the grave risk posed by the use of explosives in a congested residential area, where such an attack could have resulted in serious civilian casualties.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of elected representatives and residents amid ongoing violence in the state. Authorities are yet to release details regarding the type of explosive used, the extent of property damage, or the identity of those responsible.