Two hurt in IED blast on Imphal-Ukhrul road
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 25 2014:
At least two civilians were injured when an IED exploded on Sabungkhok Awang Leikai-Muirei village junction along Imphal-Ukhrul road in Imphal East district at around 6.10 am today.
Troops of 16 Assam Rifles posted at New Canon, Ukhrul district came to Yaingangpokpi and they marched out on a patrolling duty.
The IED exploded the moment the Assam Rifles troops reached Muirei junction.
The IED was planted at the foot of an electric pole on the northern side of the highway under a bush.
It was a remote controlled device.
The blast injured Sagolsem Birchandra (72) s/o late Amusana of Sabungkhok Awang Leikai and Keisam Ashobanta (45) s/o Tolen of the same locality.
They were working in the nearby paddy fields when the bomb exploded.
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While Birchandra was rushed to JNIMS, Ashobanta was taken to Raj Medicity.
Both of them are said to be out of danger.
The blast site was later inspected by top-ranking officers of Imphal East district police and the CO of 16 Assam Rifles.The blast left a crater of 2.5 inch diameter and charred grasses and shrubs growing in the radius of four metre.
Soon after the IED blast, local villagers heard the sound of a shot.
But it was not clear whether Assam Rifles personnel fired the shot or it was fired by the militants who triggered the IED blast.
On the other hand, troops of 16 Assam Rifles personnel pulled up and took away five suspects even though meira paibis of Yaingangpokpi and Sabungkhok tried to 'rescue' the five individuals.
Nonetheless, the meira paibis staged a sit-in protest at the gate of 16 Assam Rifles garrison.
The meira paibis maintained that the Assam Rifles personnel detained, thrashed and harassed innocent civilians every time a bomb explodes or an explosive was recovered in the said area.