Blast ahead of Rahul Gandhi's visit
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 09 2012: A day ahead of AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit to Imphal, a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) fitted in a Maruti Van was triggered by suspected armed UGs leaving at least two jawans of 13th BSF posted at Koirengei injured at Koubru Leikha along National Highway 2 under Sapermeina police station, Sadar Hills in Senapati district today.

The blast took place at around 12:30 pm today near the Shiv temple located at Koubru Leikha, some 25 kilometres from the state capital Imphal.

The two injured BSF personnel have been identified as Constable T.Anand Raj (25) from Tamil Nadu and Constable Cook Abdul Razak (22) from West Bengal.

Abdul Rajak sustained bomb splinter injuries on his abdomen while Anand Raj on his left knee.

Both of them are being treated at Leimakhong Army Hospital.

According information culled from the site of the incident, the IED was planted inside a Maruti van parked near the highway on the eastern side near the Shiv temple.

The BSF convoy was on its way to Assam in four vehicles to participate in an Inter-shooting competition of the paramilitary forces.

Security personnel inspecting the remnants of the IED-fitted Maruti Van at the blast site

As soon as the second vehicle drew nearer, the IED fitted in the Maruti Van suddenly went off.

The impact of the blast was so great that the van, which flew up in the air, fell down ripped apart into two as no better than metal scraps.

The upper portion of one vehicle belonging to the BSF convoy also suffered partial damage in the blast.

Police reports said that the bomb was triggered through a remote control device and one cylinder gas has also been recovered from the site.

As soon as the report of the blast reached, a large reinforcement of Imphal West District Police Commandos and Assam Rifles personnel stationed at Motbung rushed in to the spot and carried out extensive search operations with the help of BSF personnel.

In the operation, the AR personnel picked up two suspects.

Brig.

SK Sharma, who personally visit the blast site and extended every possible help to the Army and State Force in the investigation as well as in the operations, said that this was the first incident in the area where a vehicle was used to trigger an IED.

He assured that no such incident will happen again in the future.

Who is behind the blast is still not known and the Army and Police are investigating, he added.

Though no UG group has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack till the time of filing this report, police suspected that it could be the handy work of PLA, the armed wing of RPF.

However, Assam Rifles have claimed that the two arrested suspects are PLA cadres who were trying to escape after triggering the bomb.

According to reports from PIB (Defense Wing), on receiving inputs of possible placement of an IED, troops of AR of Red Shield Division launched three Quick Reaction Teams and arrested two PLA cadres who activated the IED along NH 2 in Koubru Leikha to target a BSF convoy.

The two PLA cadres identified as T Suranjoy (38) and T Somendro (37) of Imphal East were trying to flee the area in an unregistered Maruti Gypsy.

Both of them have been handed over to the Imphal West Police Station.

Meanwhile, Kuki Students' Organization (KSO), Sadar Hills has condemned the blast terming it as a barbaric act.

In a statement signed by its President Thangminlen Kipgen, the student body said that the blast might be the act of some vested UG groups to generate misunderstanding and hatred among the tribal people and to disturb the peaceful environment in the area.

The student body also called upon all the organization or individual not to repeat such barbaric act among the peaceful loving people in the near future.

The statement also expressed satisfaction and gratitude particularly to Brig.

SK Sharma and all Army and state forces involved in normalizing the situation and hoped that they would continue to work for the welfare of the people.