Guwahati, October 21
At least 13 persons (17 according to PTI) were killed and nearly 30 others injured when militants triggered a powerful explosion in the Ragailong area in Imphal this evening.
Defence spokesman Rajesh Mishra said over the phone from Imphal that the blast took place near an Assam Rifles camp in the vicinity of a barrack and training centre of the Manipur State Police Commando Force.
Eleven persons were killed on the spot and most of the injured were admitted to hospital with serious injuries. The death toll might go up. The bomb was suspected to be planted on a two-wheeler.
The injured were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. A high alert was sounded in the city immediately after the explosion and senior security officials rushed to the spot. The blast was suspected to be the handiwork of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kamgleipak (Prepak), the Army spokesman said.
He said Prepak, the UNLF and the KYKL were the three militant groups that were most active in insurgency-hit Manipur.
Suspected Prepak militants had also exploded a bomb near the official residence of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh on Sunday. The grenade exploded near the Manipur Rifles banquet hall where Manipur police personnel were celebrating 116th Raising Day. No one was injured in the blast that damaged a car.
