Imphal: Naga and Kuki civil society groups are pointing fingers following a July 21 IED blast that wrecked the PMGSY Bailey Bridge in Manipur’s Kamjong district. The explosion severed the vital link between Chatric and the district headquarters. Authorities are still working to track down the bombers.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam reports two conflicting, unverified theories regarding the attack. One claim suggests armed miscreants crossed the international border to trigger the blast. Another report alleges local militants hit the structure to block the Assam Rifles. A full investigation is underway to confirm the motive and identify the culprits.
The Tangkhul Naga Long Working Committee pushed back against claims from the Kuki CSO Working Committee that linked the Chatric Village Authority and the NSCN-IM to the destruction. They dismissed these charges as completely false. The group stated, "Accusations that Nagas destroyed their own infrastructure defy reason." They noted the bridge served as a lifeline for border communities that waited years for this connection.
The South-East Tangkhul Co-ordination Committee also slammed the bombing as a cowardly assault on civilian welfare. The committee highlighted the bridge's importance for education, trade, and healthcare in the Sahamphung block. They demanded that investigators catch the perpetrators and begin repair work on a war footing to reconnect the isolated area.
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