A 60-year old man was killed and three others, including two Assam Rifles jawans, were injured on Friday when a powerful bomb exploded, followed by exchange of fire with insurgents in Manipur's Chandel district, official sources said.
Sources said the bomb, allegedly planted by insurgents to attack security personnel at a roadside at Kwatha Khunou, went off on Friday afternoon at about 1.30 pm, injuring two Assam Rifles jawans of 24th Assam Rifles battalion, who were patrolling the area near Manipur-Myanmar border.
It is not known whether the insurgents exploded the bomb by using remote-controlled device or timer, but official sources said it was a powerful bomb of improvised explosive device. The sound of the explosion could be heard at a distance of 3 km.
First official reports said Assam Rifles personnel opened fire seconds after the explosion at the hill side, where they thought insurgents were fleeing.
Reports said two civilians, identified as Sangaijao Singh and Kaboklei, were injured. But it was not immediately known whether they sustained injuries by the splinters of the bomb or in the exchange of fire between Assam Rifles personnel and insurgents.
Official sources said Sangaijao Singh died of his injuries while the injured were taken to a nearby hospital at the border town of Moreh, nearly 3 km from the spot.
Sources said a large number of police and other security forces from Moreh rushed to the spot for a massive manhunt, but no one has been arrested so far. Insurgents reportedly escaped to nearby jungles, sources said.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident, but the banned People's Liberation Army has been attacking security personnel at different places.
