10 BRTF labourers hurt in IED attack
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, November 18 2013: A joyride of BRTF truck carrying 50 passengers enroute to Ukhrul town ended in tragedy after a powerful IED blast ripped apart the vehicle leaving at least 10 persons injured including a minor girl.

The blast occurred at around 2.55 pm today and purportedly targeted the truck belonging to 84 RCC 25 BRTF bearing 08E71267 at a sinking area road along Ukhrul-Jessami road (National Highway 202), located about 4-km from Ukhrul town.

Out of the 10 injured persons, a minor girl (7) lost her limb while 7 other sustained serious injuries.

The injured were rushed to BRTF MI hospital for first aid.

From there, they were referred to hospitals at Imphal for further medical treatment.

Police and Assam Rifles rushed to the blast site and carried out preliminary investigation.

The explosion was reportedly caused by powerful IED and remote-controlled, which indicated that it was well planned and executed by suspected armed groups.

The BRTF truck destroyed during the PLA attack at Ukhrul

The high magnitude blast totally damaged the vehicle's front engine and its wheels blown away.

One of the tyres was seen 50-meter down the road.

It left 3 feet depth and 4 feet wide crater on the road.

Vehicular parts were also seen strewn all over the blast site.

Arjun Chetri (38), a passenger in the ill-fated truck, recalled that a Shaktiman truck had just passed by the site and when their truck reached the sinking zone, a loud explosion occurred and everything was in disarray.

The injured were all travelling in the front seat.

A source said the truck was taking the BRTF labourers for shopping in Ukhrul town after receiving their salaries on Monday.

Today's explosion is the seventh incident in two months and one day in Ukhrul.

On November 15, a powerful bomb rocked the Tangkhul Naga Long office for the second time after its first attack on September 18 last.

From the frequency of bomb attacks in Ukhrul, it can be dubbed as the only district with highest record of violence in the past few months.

Meanwhile, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has vehemently condemned the incident and blamed the state Government's failure on maintaining law and order.

"We appeal the responsible party to refrain from such inhuman and violent act," stated TNL general secretary K.Dickson, in a statement.