Bomb explodes in Imphal mall

Imphal : A bomb exploded in a mall here early on Thursday but there were no casualty as the complex had not opened for business for the day, Manipur police said.

The bomb went off at 5 a.m. in Vishal Mega Mart in Chingmeirong, shattering the glass facade and damaging some portions of the building.

Some armed insurgents might have hurled a Chinese-made hand grenade to extort money from the owner, police sources said. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.

The blast followed the kidnapping of five labourers who were set free subsequently after people threatened to launch a mass agitation.