Two BSF personnel killed in powerful bomb blast
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 09 2018: At least two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and three civilians (including a woman) were critically injured after a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near Koirengei BSF Sector HQs at around 1.30pm today.

The blast occurred along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway and around one kilometre away from the private residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, under Heingang PS.

According to information received from the spot, the blast occurred in front of a grocery shop located at the side of the road leading towards BSF sector HQs .

It is suspected that the bomb might have been planted in front of the shop by underground militants and might have been triggered remotely.

Two BSF personnel killed in powerful bomb blast

The powerful explosion tore open the front portion of the grocery shop blowing it away to smithereens and left a big hole in front of the shop.

The owner of the grocery shop, identified as Mangsatabam Premlata Devi (40) w/o (L) Sudhir of Kanto village, two BSF personnel who were on patrol duty near the shop (identified as Ningombam Ningthouba Meitei (39) s/o (L) Shyamkishor of Bashikhong Kittana Panung and Sanjay Tirkey (28) s/o SH Bishnu of Jalpaiguri West Bengal), one Heisnam Mobi (35) s/o Manglem (a van driver of Manipur Public School )_and one Bindya Thakuri (19) D/o Tilak Bahadur of Koirengei BSF entrance gate sustained injuries due to the blast.

The two injured BSF personnel and the civilians were rushed to Raj Medicity and Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in serious conditions by a team of BSF and State police.

However the two injured BSF personnel succumbed to their injuries at RIMS casualty and their bodies were later deposited at JNIMS morgue for post mortem.

Mangsatabam Premlata Devi who sustained injuries on her left hand as well as her legs and the van driver who sustained injury on his left leg, were admitted at Raj Medicity.

Premlata is stated to be in a critical condition and is currently undergoing treatment at ICU ward till the time of filing this report.

The 19 year old girl suffered only minor injury and as such was not treated in a hospital.

Soon after the blast a team of Imphal East district police personnel led by SP K Meghachandra rushed to the spot and investigated the site of the blast.

Senior officers of Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF also came to the spot.

The blast site and the surrounding areas were cordoned off by the police and paramilitary forces to prevent civilians from entering the blast site.

State Police bomb expert team and paramilitary forces also checked for the presence of any other explosive materials in and around the area using metal detectors and sniffer dogs.

A State forensic expert team also came and conducted inquest of the area.

A case has been registered at Heingang PS regarding the incident.

It may be mentioned that today's blast which claimed the lives of two BSF personnel occurred within 24 hours of the twin hand grenade blasts in front of IGAR South PRO office complex (Sanjeevani) located near Imphal Hotel last evening (at around 6.40 pm) which injured one Assam Rifles personnel.