Manipur Assembly elections: Campaign ends in Manipur with blast on Republic day

Manipur observed the last day of election campaign for the January 28 polling with a bomb blast and a bandh. The explosion on Republic Day, even as the governor was presiding over the function, sent the security paraphernalia into a tizzy. There were was no casualty.

It was a lacklustre final day of campaigning because of the bandh called by seven major rebel groups. Candidates and their supporters moved in small numbers making a last attempt to woo voters for the elections that, going by most assessments, is heading towards a hung assembly.

The explosion took place just as the governor was taking salute of the march past at Moirangkhom at around 10:30am near the First Battalion Manipur Rifles ground, barely two km from Kangla Fort. Militants also ambushed a convoy of security forces in Kamjong area of Ukhrul district later in the afternoon. However, details are awaited.