Three CRPF personnel seriously injured in IED blast in Manipur

Three CRPF personnel were seriously injured in an IED blast in Imphal West, Manipur, on Sunday night. Separately, three Meitei villagers were killed and four injured in suspected militant firing while collecting firewood, while three people were reported missing.

Imphal: At least three personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were seriously injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Manipur’s Imphal West district, officials said on Monday.

According to a police official, the IED explosion took place at Kakwa Lamdaibung Lampak, near Singjamei police station, late on Sunday. The injured CRPF personnel were admitted to a hospital in Imphal for treatment. They were identified as C Poonambalam (58), Ramesh Kumar (57) and Pabitra Kumar Jena (56).

---

The exact cause and circumstances of the explosion are yet to be ascertained.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said that the police were pursuing some leads regarding the incident and expressed confidence that action would be taken against those responsible in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, three people were killed, several others injured and three people reported missing in separate incidents in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Monday.

A police statement said that suspected armed militants opened fire on a group of around 14 villagers who had gone to collect firewood at Khongbal Tangkhul, under Sagolmang police station in Kangpokpi district. Three villagers belonging to the Meitei community succumbed to bullet injuries, while four others were injured in the firing. The injured villagers were evacuated and are undergoing medical treatment, the statement said.

The statement further said that the Manipur Police, in close coordination with the CRPF, Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Assam Rifles and other security agencies, were working continuously to maintain law and order, prevent further escalation of violence and ensure the safety and security of the public.

The police said that intensified action would be taken against all elements involved in the incidents. All necessary legal and operational measures would be pursued to identify those responsible and bring them to justice, the statement added.

The Manipur Police also urged all sections of society to cooperate with the security forces and the administration in maintaining peace and preventing further violence.