IMPHAL, September 25: Atleast two civilians were injured when a powerful road side Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded along the Nation Highway-150 Imphal-Ukhrul stretch in between Sabungkhok and Yaingangpokpi near Murei Village Lamkhai Yaingangpokpi police station.
The explosion took place around 6.15am about seven km northeast of Lamlai Police station and, three and half kilometres south west from Yainganpokpi police station.
It has been speculated that the IED was intended to target the security forces as it was reportedly detonated using remote device seconds before a team of AR personnel, who were on area domination patrolling, approach the blast site. An AR post is also situated nearby the area about 500 metres away from the blast site.
The victims who were injured in the blast have been identified as Sagolsem Birchandra Singh, 72, son of late S Amusana of Sabungkhok Khunou Awang Leikai, he sustained splinter injuries at his left hand and under the left eye, currently hospitalised at JNIMS and Keisam Asobanta, 45, son of K Tolen Singh of Sabungkhok Khunou Awang Leikai.
He received splinter injuries at his left shoulder and right abdomen. Asobanta is currently hospitalised at Raj Medicity.
Birchandra was on his way to retrieve his fish trap while Asobanta was returning home after retrieving his fish trap.
Soon after the blast a combined team of police and AR personnel arrived and swept the area using metal detector and recovered debris and splinters of the IED.
During the process all movement of vehicles along the route was halted for several hours.
Meanwhile, the AR team also rounded up five individuals from the area under suspicion and sent to 16 AR post Sangsak.
The civilians were later handed over to Porompat Police Station.
They have been identified as Waikhom Jiten alias Jitendra, 32, son of W Lukhoi of Yaingangpokpi Shanti Khongbal, Hidam Shanta, 34, son of (L) H Lukhoi Singh of Sabungkhok Khunou Awang Leikai, Ningthoujam Basanta, 43, son of N Yaiskul Singh of Sabungkhok Khunou Awang Leikai, Laishram Birjit alias Kenao, 17, son of L Somorendro Singh Sabungkhok Khunou Makha Leikai and Khundongbam Sana, 34, son of Ningthembi Singh of Heirok part-III
They are reportedly labourers of a brick kiln situated at Sabungkhok Khunou belonging to Naran.
Seram Memcha Devi, secretary, Sabungkhok Makha Leikai Meira Paibi Lup, strongly condemned the blast inflicting injuries to the civilians and at the same time denounced the highhandedness of the security forces for arresting civilians without any proper verification.
She appealed the security forces or miscreants who planted the bomb not to create a fear psychosis in populated area in the future.