Two Assam Rifles troopers wounded in Manipur explosion

Imphal: Two Assam Rifles troopers were seriously injured when a powerful bomb exploded during a search operation to detect movement of insurgents in interior Thoubal district of Manipur today, official sources said. Personnel of the 15th Assam Rifles battalion and police after getting specific information about the infiltration of insurgents in the Yairipok Heidroipokpi area, launched a massive manhunt when the powerful improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at around 10 am, they said.[caption id=“attachment_671455” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] An Assam Rifles contingent. AFP[/caption] Two troopers who along with others were conducting the operation were injured, official reports said, adding that the spot is about 25 km south-east of Imphal. More security and police forces from nearby Thoubal district headquarters have been rushed to the spot and joined the search operation but insurgents, however, managed to escape to nearby jungles. The injured troopers were taken to nearby Thoubal district hospital. No individual or group has claimed the responsibility but banned insurgent outfits such as People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) are ‘active’ in the area, reports said. On 26 February, an Assam Rifles havildar was killed and three other troopers were injured when PLA insurgents exploded a powerful bomb, planted at a roadside, by using remote-controlled device at Kangbai area in Churachandpur district. PTI