Mail News Service
Imphal, Sep 5 : Two havildars of the 28 Assam Rifles were wounded in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast at Keishampat in the heart of the Imphal on Wednesday.
The injured have been identified as Rajendra Kumar, 32, a havildar, son of Gopal Ram, hailing from the village of Kotyared in Almari district, Uttarkhand and Birendra, 40, also a havildar from the state of Himachal Pradesh. They were taken to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here for medical treatment.
Reports said the blast ocurred around 8:40 a.m. when the IED believed to have planted on a scooter grey in colour targeted at the 28 Assam Rifles team, injuring two of them, one critically. The security personnel were taking rest at the spot after an ROP duty for the day when the IED exploded. The registration number of the two wheeler involved in the blast was MN0-4 1242. The scooter was completely destroyed in the explosion. One Tata Magic van and another Hyundai i10 car were also damaged in the blast.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
In the meantime, womenfolk of Keishampat staged a sit-in to protest the attack and appealed to all concerned not to repeat such incident in such a densely populated area in future.
Meanwhile, one rifleman of City Police was hurt when a Sub-inspector accidentally fired one shot from his service revolver at Imphal City Police Station.
The wounded is identified as Chabungbam Iboyaima, 32, son of late Ch Lilasingh, a resident of Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai and the SI as AK Dilip from Thoubal district.
The incident happened around 8 a.m. when AK Dilip accidentally fired one shot from his service revolver which hit in Iboyaima’s right neck.
He was rushed to Raj Polyclinic but referred to Shija Hospital .
A HQ IGAR S press hand out said in view of the forth coming Panchayat elections in the Imphal Valley and the festive season ahead underground groups have planned to disturb fragile peace in Manipur by intensifying their subversive activities such as bomb blast, targeting media people and Govt employees, planting of IEDs and lobbing of grenades near important institution and at residents of Govt employees. To support their malicious intentions, large numbers of attempts are being made by various underground outfits to infiltrate from International Border in order to create disturbance in the State. Troops of Assam Rifles, being on high alert and maintaining strict vigilance by dominating International Border have foiled many infiltration attempts made by various groups in recent past. This has contributed immensely in ensuring environmental security to the people of Manipur. A combination of failed infiltration attempts, large number of surrenders evident by two recent surrender ceremonies at Mantripukhri, inability of the undergrounds to interfere with coming panchayat elections and disturb prevalent peace in the Manipur state has left the CorCom demoralised and disparate. In desperation and in an attempt to make their presence felt, the CorCom has started resorting to acts which might endanger the local population, if their nefarious designs succeed. In one such attempt today at 0845h an IED exploded near Keishampat Junction which led to two Jawans of Assam Rifles and a civilian suffering minor injuries. The cowardly action carried out by CorCom shows the frustration among the insurgent groups who wants peace, tranquility and prosperity in Manipur to be disturbed at any cost. Undeterred troops of Assam Rifles along with other Security Forces are ready for supreme sacrifice to defeat nefarious designs of UG groups and ensure that none of the evil design of the terrorist fructify it was added.”
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ar-points-hand-to-cor-com-three-ar-personnel-injured-in-blast/
