One killed in Imphal blast, ahead of Modi's visit

A 10-year-old boy was killed in an explosion in Manipur Saturday, police said. The blast took place a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. “The young boy was standing on a road at Lilong (under Thoubal district) while his mother was collecting some forest products nearby when the bomb exploded, killing him on the spot,” a police officer said. [caption id=“attachment_1790481” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] “The mother immediately rushed the boy to a hospital, where doctors declared him as brought dead,” he added The bomb was reportedly planted by militants. The security forces, including Assam Rifles troopers, led by senior officers have rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation. No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast, police said. Thoubal district is 185 km east of capital city Imphal. Modi would visit the state Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the Sangai Manipur Tourism Festival. He will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the festival, the biggest tourism carnival named after Sangai, the rare brow-antlered deer, available only in Keibul Lamjao national park in state’s Bishenpur district. During his stay in Imphal, the prime minister is likely to lay the foundation stone for a sports university in the state. IANS