Blast outside counting hall in Manipur

A powerful bomb, suspected to be a bundle of gelatine sticks, exploded near the Mizoram counting hall late on Saturday night

A powerful bomb, suspected to be a bundle of gelatine sticks, exploded near the counting hall for the election to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat on Saturday night, official sources said.

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The explosion occurred in front of the chamber of an advocate, opposite the counting hall which is in the premises of Aizawl Deputy Commissioner's office, heavily guarded by the state police and central para-military personnel.

The blast damaged the window panes of the DC's office and adjoining buildings, including the DC office canteen, the chamber of advocate Michael Zothankhuma and office of the vernacular daily 'Romei', whose editor Robert Lalchhuana is the president of the Mizoram Journalists Association.

No one was injured in the incident, State Chief Secretary H V Lalringa, who visited the spot, said, adding the target was the counting hall but the explosion could not be caused there due to tight security arrangements.

State Director General of Police M Tumsanga, Aizawl district Deputy Commissioner C Tawnluaia and Superintendent of Police L T Hrangchal also rushed to the spot.

The SP said that full investigation would be launched to apprehend the culprits.

The opposition parties alleged that the 3,620 Bru votes were forcibly collected by underground Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) from the voters and posted at a post office in Assam's Silchar.

Two ZNP leaders, impersonating as election officials, were suspected to have snatched away a mail bag containing postal ballot papers for the Bru people from the Aizawl Head Post Office on May 5.