Imphal, March 18 2009:: One personnel of 12 MLI was killed while another was injured when they intercepted a group of armed men today at Naorem under Nambol police station at about 9.45 pm.

The deceased is identified as Lt Satir Singh, the Post Commander of the 12 MLI unit stationed at Maibam Lokpa Ching while the injured has been named as Sepoy Chandrakanta.

The incident occurred when the security personnel challenged the armed men suspected to have triggered a bomb blast and fired some rounds at the Oinam Mamang Leikai residence of one Oinam Ibopishak Singh at around 9 pm today.

O Ibopishak is informed to be an Executive Engineer of the Loktak Development Authority.

Police sources speculate that the blast might have been triggered by two bombs and that the fleeing miscreants also unleashed a number of bullet rounds toward the same building.

In another earlier incident four persons, including two women, sustained splinter wounds when unidentified miscreants triggered a blast near a private medical centre located at Uripok Kombirei Keithel this evening.

The blast which seemingly targeted SUBA Hospital and Assisted Reproductive Centre was set off at about 7.30 pm in between two scooters parked in front of the medical Centre, according to the police.

Spot report also suggest that the explosive device was a hand-grenade lobbed by the unidentified person/s.of the injured persons, condition of one of two brothers hurt in the blast is stated to be critical.

The brothers identified as Phurailatpam Akendra (38) and Ph Ibomcha (36) from Uripok Bachaspati Leikai jointly runs a medical shop (Allen Pharmacy) at the ground floor of the private hospital.

With injury near the right eye, Akendra is being treated at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute while his more serious younger brother with chest wounds has been rolled into the Operation Theatre at the time of filing this report.

The two women who had a providential escape with minor wounds inspite of being close to the blast site have been identified as 40 year old Khangembam (O) Soro Devi of Lalambung Takhellambam Leikai and Mayanglambam Brojeshori Devi (32) from Kakching Wairi Sabal Leikai.

While Soro, who sustained splinter wounds on the right arm, runs an eatery kiosk near the private hospital M Brojeshori reportedly came out of the hospital to purchase medicines when the blast occurred.

The younger victim has been wounded on the right small finger.

Moments after the blast, a police team led by Senior SP (Imphal West) L Kailun arrived and conducted preliminary investigation apart from immediately swinging into action through frisking and checking operations in the area.

Impact of the detonation in addition to damaging the parked scooters and a car lying idle on the opposite side also shattered glass window panes of the private medical centre's upper floors.

District police have reportedly registered a case on the matter even though there is no report of any arrest in connection with the incident.

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