Imphal: A sit-in protest was held at Khangabok in Thoubal district on August 30 against the grenade attack on Sorojini Oil Pump a day earlier.
The protest was led largely by women from several districts, who condemned the attack on the civilian establishment and demanded the arrest of those responsible. Protesters held placards carrying slogans including, “Attacking innocents is an ultimate act of cowardice” and “Arrest all those involved in the bomb attack.”
The protest followed the attack at around 6.20 pm on Saturday, when unidentified persons allegedly hurled a hand grenade into the fuel station.
A woman protester told reporters that eyewitnesses saw the attackers arrive in a four-wheeler from the direction of Wangjing before carrying out the attack and fleeing the area.
A protest leader demanded that those responsible clarify why the civilian establishment was targeted and appealed to armed groups and individuals to refrain from acts that endanger civilian lives and livelihoods.
No casualties or injuries were reported in the blast.
The explosion, however, damaged property at the fuel station, fracturing a concrete wall and damaging a fuel tanker parked on the premises.
The motive behind the attack has not been established. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation to trace the vehicle and identify those responsible.