I-Day celebrated amid tight security and bomb blast in Manipur

IMPHAL: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh asked the insurgents to give up violence and join the national mainstream by participating in the implementation of various development programmes for the welfare o f the people.

After hoisting the national flag at the 1st Manipur rifles parade ground, Ibobi Singh said violence has no place in a democratic society like India and asked the militant outfits to come for dialogue with the government.

The main Independence day celebrations were held at the 1st Manipur rifles parade ground amid tight security deployment in view of the boycott call given by all major insurgent outfits in the state. Chief Minister took salute from participants in the march past by police, students and other central forces.

A powerful bomb exploded at nearby Moirangkhom petrol pump area a few minutes before the start of the celebrations but there was no casualty, official sources said.

Reports from districts said Independence day celebrations were held at all the district headquarters.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state except the explosion at Moirangkhom area in Imphal west district, sources said.