Our Correspondent
Imphal, Nov. 13 (EMN): Two Assam Rifle personnel were killed, and at least six injured, when suspected militants detonated a powerful bomb in Manipur’s Chandel district on Monday morning.
The incident took place when personnel of the 18th Assam Rifles were passing through Mahamani village areas under Chandel district headquarters, about 65 km out of Imphal around 6 am, sources said.
One of the Assam Rifles personnel died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries, police sources said. Those injured have been evacuated to Leimakhong army hospital for medical aid.
The deceased troopers have been identified as Indra Singh and Sohan Lal; while those injured are S Sarkar, N Shyam Kumar, Tirendra Nath Das, Ram Govind Singh, Nirmal Roy and Lalnunpuia – all riflemen.
The security forces suspect that the bomb may have been a remote-controlled IED (Improvised Explosive Device) as the site of the explosion was said to be very close to the battalion headquarters of the 18th Assam Rifles. Police said that they have started an investigation.
The security teams also conducted a search operation in and around the suspected area. But there was no report of any arrest yet.
Meanwhile, holding placards condemning the bomb blast (near Mahamani church), some women from Chandel held a sit-in-protest. No armed group operating in the state has claimed responsibility for the day’s incident till the time of filing this report.
