By Our Correspondent –
Imphal: In what could be termed as yet another threat to the Catholic Church in Manipur, a hand grenade was found placed at the gate of retired Priests’ Home in Imphal, Manipur, early Thursday morning.
According to sources, when the driver went to open the gate early Thursday morning at around 6:20, a hand grenade was found at the gate in a polythene bag. Police came and defused the bomb, the source said.
Fr. Solomon, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Imphal said that there were no threats or any monetary demands prior to the discovery of the bomb at the gate.
“We are shocked and surprised at the same time. When we heard of the threat, we rushed from the Archbishop’s House to the Priests’ Home,” the Chancellor said. The police came to the spot and defused the bomb and took it away, Fr. Solomon added.
“Priests’ Home is a place where retired Catholic priests stay. And we don’t understand why it should be targeted,” he expressed. A complaint has been put up with the SP of Imphal West. Round the clock police protection has been provided for the Priests’ Home.
So far no claim has been made by any group to be behind the bomb threat.
This comes close on the heels of St. Josehp’s School, Sughnu being burned down by unknown miscreants on the fateful night of April 25, 2019 and the two bomb threats to Little Flower School, Imphal and Catholic School in Canchipur in the same month.