Imphal, September 09: At least five persons including two personnel of 39 Assam Rifles and three civilians were wounded when a powerful bomb found planted on top of a building under demolition in connection with road alignment of National Highway 39 at Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak in Imphal East exploded at around 8.15 am today.

The building belongs to Hoon Raikhan who is the Commissioner of Income Tax currently posted at Shillong.

The building used to house one shop selling eatables, a gift shop and a pharmacy on the ground floor.

However, after the road alignment measures, the building has been vacated and the demolition work started some weeks earlier under the supervision of a caretaker identified as Johnson Raikhan who puts up in a makeshift shed located on the eastern portion of the building.

When the bomb went off, some AR personnel on ROP duty were reportedly present on top of the building.

Hearing the loud explosion other AR personnel stationing on the road side of the building were alerted and the panic stricken shop-keepers of the area ran for cover.

Two AR personnel who were present on top of the building, two relatives of the caretaker who were sitting on the staircase of the building talking and a girl coming along driving a Honda Activa at the relevant time sustained injuries in the blast.

The two wounded AR personnel have been identified as Havildar Sunil Arya (41) and Rifleman S Samthing while the three civilian victims are Kansai Raikhan (65) and Makanmi Raikhan (45), both residents of Tolloi, Ukhrul district and Thingbaijam Aruna Devi (26) d/o Thingbaijam Itocha of Thangmeiband Yumnam Leikai.

The wounded AR personnel have been admitted at Leimakhong Army Hospital where the condition of Rifleman Sunil Arya is said to be critical.

The three civilian victims have been hospitalised at RIMS Hospital.

Talking to mediapersons at the site of the blast, police said that the bomb is suspected to be IED.

In connection with the explosion, 39 Assam Rifles have reportedly picked up the caretaker for questioning.