Manipur blast: Two injured admitted to hospital, receiving treatment(Update)

Two persons who were left injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded earlier today at the Morei Lamkhai near Yaingngpokpi Bazar, along the NH-202 on Imphal-Ukhrul Road, are now undergoing treatment.

"Around 6.15 in the morning, the blast sound was heard at the nearby village. The police team rushed to the spot immediately and took the two injured people to the hospital," said Inspector Mr. W. Devkumar Singh, Officer-in-Charge, Lamlai Police Station.

One of the civilians, who was returning from the agricultural field with his day's catch of fish, was injured by the splinters and was immediately evacuated to Raj Medicity at north A.O.C.

The other injured person, who was on his morning walk along the NH-150 was rushed to the JNIMS trauma centre.

The motive for the explosion was not immediately known as no rebel group has yet claimed any responsibility.

Manipur has long been affected by insurgent violence and is also home to dozens of tribal groups along with small guerrilla armies rebelling against the government.

They often compete against each other in the turf wars for dominance in the state. According to the authorities, at least 50,000 people have lost their lives in insurgency-driven violence in six of India's seven northeastern states since the country's independence from Britain in 1947.

The militants say the northeast has been largely neglected by India's political leaders, accusing them of focusing only on the development of the country's relatively wealthier eight northern states.