Imphal, Nov 13: At least 2 personnel of the 18 Assam Rifles troops were killed, six other seriously injured after suspected militants blasted a powerful IED at Mahamani Village in Chandel district at around 6 am today morning.
Report reaching here said that the Assam Rifle troopers were on road patrol duty when the blast took place. Those injured were reported to be evacuated at Military Hospital Leimakhong by Helicopter.
The two personnel killed in the blast are identified as Rifleman Indra Singh and Riflemen Sohan Lal. The six personnel injured are identified as Rifleman S.Sarkar, Rifleman N. Shyam Kumar, Rifleman Tirendra Nath Das, Rifleman Ram Govind Singh, Rifleman Nirmal Roy and Rifleman Lalnunpuia. Source said condition of one among the injured is critical.
Today’s blast is vehemently condemn by Chandel Naga Peoples Organisation (CNPO) and its sub-ordinate bodies. The body while terming the act as an act of cowards said that they consider it as a plot to disturb and disrupt the peace talk between GoI and NSCN-IM which is at the Threshold to its logical conclusion.
The CNPO statement further said that if those involved in the blast fails to clarify over the attack with reason within midnight of November 15, it will call 24 hours total bandh from midnight of November 15 at Pallel to Chandel and Chandel to Moreh road demanding to book the culprits involved by the concern authority at the earliest.
On the other hand protesting the blast members of the CNPO and its sub ordinate unit today staged a sit-in-protest at DC Lamkhai, Chandel. Villagers of Mahamani, Kanankhu Khurinkhu, SInadam and Daampi areas participated. All shops and business establishment remain shut during the protest.