2 BSF jawans killed, 3 civilians injured in IED blast in Manipur

Imphal, May 9

Two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans were killed and three civilians injured in an IED blast outside a BSF camp in Manipur's Imphal East district on Wednesday, police said.

The blast triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) occurred at about 2 pm, when the Border Security Force (BSF) men were deployed just outside the gate of their Koirengi sector headquarters camp, on the Dimapur-Imphal highway here, the official said.

"The blast took place inside a shop that is located near the camp. The two killed constables -- Sanjay Tirkey and N N Meetei -- were on a road protection task," he said.

The three civilians injured in the blast were identified as Heishnam Muby, Mangshata Bam Premlata Devi (40) and Binbya Thakuri, a senior police officer said.

All the injured persons were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where both the BSF jawans succumbed to their injuries, he said, adding that the three civilians were undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The IED was suspected to have been planted by insurgents active in the area, the BSF officer said.

However, the police officer said no group had claimed responsibility for the blast.  — PTI