Three Indian troopers injured in blast near Indo-Myanmar border

Imphal, June 3: Three troopers of 11 Assam Rifles were seriously injured while on patrol when militants exploded a powerful bomb near H. Bongyang village, six km from the Manipur-Myanmar border on Saturday afternoon, police said.

The injured security personnel, one junior commissioned officer and two riflemen, were airlifted to the military hospital in Leimakhong near Imphal. All the three are battling for their lives, according to police. They were on patrol after coming out of their camp at Khudengthabi when the roadside bomb was detoted by a remote control device. The militants are believed to have escaped to their camps across the border before the arrival of reinforcements.

Although other troopers opened fire, it is not known if the militants suffered any casualties. No firearms were stched, police said. There have been a series of bomb blasts in Moreh, the town adjoining the India-Myanmar border, in the recent past. A few days back, two troopers of 165 Territorial Army were killed and two wounded in a similar bomb blast at Lokchao. Four policemen also sustained injuries at Kotha when militants attacked them with similar bombs.

A woman eking out a living as a porter was also shot dead in the town. Police have, however, not been able to make any progress in the investigations. In line with the directive from Union Home Minister Rajth Singh, the state government has set up an inquiry committee headed by Pramod Asta, Additiol Director General of Police, to probe these blasts and attacks. It will submit its report within 15 days.

The responsibility for most of these attacks has not been claimed by any outfit. Chief minister N. Biren Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that the miscreants would be hunted down. The violent incidents and protests from the people have adversely affected the legal border trade at Moreh. (IANS)