IMPHAL, Nov 23 MNS NNN : Two Army personnel were injured when two powerful IEDs planted by UNLF cadres exploded at Konthoujam Lamkhai under Patsoi Police Station in Imphal West on Friday. Six civilians were reportedly pulled up by personnel of 18 Sikh Regiment from the site after the bomb blast.
\nThe explosions occurred around 6:55 am as an ROP of 18 Sikh Regiment coming towards Khumbong bazaar reached Konthoujam Lamkhai about 3 km from Patsoi Police Station.
\nTwo IEDs planted on the roadside by suspected militants simultaneously exploded about 20 ft apart, injuring two personnel and another sniffer dog. The injured Army personnel were taken to Leimakhong Military Hospital.
\nWitnesses said that shortly after the blasts, additional force from the 18 Sikh Regiment was called in and cordoned off the area. They reportedly pulled up six civilians who were working in a field nearby for questioning. The Army personnel beat up the six civilians before they were picked up, they said.
\nOne of the injured personnel was identified as Th Hipony Mao of 165 Territorial Army. He is a jawan of the dog squad of the Army attached with 18 Sikh Regiment.
\nThe identity of the injured JCO could not be established till the time of filing this report.
\nHowever, the source said that he sustained minor splinter injury and discharged after administering first aids at the hospital.
\nTheir conditions were stated to be out of danger even though their identities could not be established from the source.
\nAdditional force from 18 Sikh Regiment and police from Imphal rushed to the area and conducted a search operation to find out if more IEDs were planted. However, a cartoon box levels with \u201cB-Coy 18 Sikh Regiment\u201d was found at a place not so far away from one of the blast site.
\nSuspect of being bomb trap, bomb experts from Manipur police were called out. No explosive was found in it but only wasted materials.
\nWhile the search operation was in progress, the traffic along the highway was blocked for about two hours. Local MLA of Khonthoujam Assembly Constituency who came to take the stock of the situation at the blast site strongly condemned the blast has appealed to all concerns not to indulge in such act which would suffer casualty to the civilian populace too.
\nAsserting that all the six people picked up by the security force were civilians who were engaging in harvesting paddy, the MLA expressed hopes that they will be released after necessary verification completed.
\nMeanwhile, local residents of Singjamei Chingamathak staged a sit-in on Friday to register a protest against the bomb blast that took place near Manipur College, Imphal West yesterday. One civilian named Naorem Ibomcha was critically wounded in the explosion. He is now undergoing treatment at the ICU of (RIMS).
\nPlacards reading \u201cPlease Respect Human life,\u201d \u201cStop Senseless Activities,\u201d \u201cPublic is not Enemies\u201d and \u201cDo not Plant Bombs in Resident Areas\u201d were seen held by the protesters.<\/p>\n\n