A hand grenade hurled by unidentified miscreants exploded in front of a betel leaf shop located at Wangjing Heirok crossing New Market under Thoubal Police Station in Thoubal district. According to reports, unidentified miscreants lobbed the bomb on February 22 at around 10:40 pm in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. Fortunately, as the incident occurred late at night, no casualties were reported. However, the impact of the explosion caused damage to the shop’s shutter, roofing sheets, and the door of an adjacent shop. The shop targeted in the attack belongs to Ningthoujam Roben alias Bijenkumar (41), son of (Late) Angang of Heirok Part-III, Tourangbam area. A team of Thoubal district police arrived at the scene yesterday morning and conducted a detailed inspection. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
Speaking to media persons, shop owner Ningthoujam Roben stated that this was not the first attack on his establishment. He alleged that on August 10, 2025, in the early hour, unidentified individuals had earlier fired two rounds at his shop and demanded ₹5 lakh from him, which he refused to pay. He further said that in January 2026, an underground group warned him to close down his shop. However, as the shop is his family’s only source of livelihood, he continued operating it. He also mentioned that after certain allegations linking him with Kuki narco-terrorists were circulated on social media, both he and local residents strongly refuted the claims. Roben alleged that he has recently been receiving repeated threats through WhatsApp calls from a group demanding money, but due to illness in his family, he didn’t give the said demand. Following these threats, the bomb attack was carried out at his shop to intimidate him, he claimed.
Roben appealed to concerned groups to refrain from targeting him, stating that he earns his livelihood through legitimate business activities and has no involvement in any unlawful activities. Meanwhile, a sit in protest was held on Monday evening being organized by The Wangjing Lamding keithel shopkeepers’ development association condemning the recent attack and also demanding immediate security deployment at Wangjing area permanently. Later, a memorandum copy was also submitted to SP concerned demanding immediate security deployment at Wangjing area. Terming the attack as cowardly act, the memorandum copy stated that an attack on one of the members of our commercial community is not just a personal injury, but an assault on the peace, livelihood and sense of security of every citizen of Wangjing.
Such incidents create an atmosphere of fear that cripples local trade and felt apprehension to the public from visiting the market. Despite Wanging Bazar being a vital economic hub for the district, the memorandum further stated that the lack of visible and consistent security personnel has left us vulnerable. The recent incident highlights the absence of regular police patrolling during peak business hours, a lack of surveillance which emboldens miscreants and anti-social elements and increasing of vulnerability to small business owners who handle daily cash transactions. The association demanded immediate security deployment which includes permanent stationing of police personnel and commandos within the market area to deter further crimes, regular patrolling (implementation of intensive foot and mobile patrolling especially during the evening hours when shops are closed) and swift investigation (the immediate arrest and prosecution of the culprits involved in the recent attack to ensure justice is served).