I-Day celebrations turn sour: High intensity blasts rock Manipur

Aug 15, 2012, 11:54AM



Imphal: High-intensity Four blasts rocked Manipur as India celebrated Independence Day on Wedensday, police said.

According to reports, four persons have been seriously injured in series of blasts in Manipur.

Three blasts were reported in Imphal, while the other one took place in Thoubal, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's district, reports said.

The blasts took place while Independence Day celebrations were underway in the state.

The blasts are being taken as a mark of protest by the insurgent outfits that had called for a boycott in view of the Independence day celebrations.  

The militant groups had claimed that the state was 'forcibly merged' with India in 1949.

Meanwhile, after hoisting the national flag at the parade ground of 1st Manipur Rifles battalion here, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh appealed to the insurgents to lay down arms and join the mainstream by participating in development works.

More details are awaited.

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