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MPHAL, Nov 19 : At least three AR personnel and two civilians have been injured in a grenade attack launched by unidentified persons targeting an AR convoy. The incident occurred while troops of 34 Assam Rifles, travelling in a Gypsy and a mini-truck, came under the grenade attack at Singjamei Keithel along NH-39 at about 5.30 this evening.
The two civilians hurt in the incident include a 52 year old woman. The woman has been identified as Oinam Bimola and she was rushed to RIMS for treatment. She was manning a grocery shop at Singjamei bazar at the time of the incident.
The other civilian has been identified as Arambam Karan (24) of Hojai, Assam. He was hit by splinters on the left arm and abdomen. He has also been admitted to RIMS.
A 65-year old woman, who was selling vegetables nearby, fainted on hearing the loud explosion. She has been identified as Nepram Mani of Bashikhong Torban and was taken to RIMS for treatment.
Two of the injured Assam Rifles personnel have been taken to the unit hospital of the IGAR (S) at Mantripukhri, while another was admitted to RIMS.
The personnel admitted to RIMS has been identified as Hardan Sanwar (22) of Arunachal Pradesh while on the other hand the identities of those taken to the AR unit hospital at Mantri-pukhri could not be confirmed.
MLA of Singjamei AC I Hemochandra visited the injured persons at RIMS and strongly condemned the bomb blast.
On being contacted by The Sangai Express , Colonel GS of IGAR (S) said that three AR men were hurt in the incident and added that it was a grenade attack.
On being asked about the identities of all the three personnel, the officer said that he could not tell it ‘off hand.’
The AR team was travelling from Imphal to Thoubal when unidentified persons lobbed the hand grenade, Chinese made, at them at Singjamei Keithel near Kumar Pharmacy. The grenade exploded inside the Gypsy, which was topless.
On the impact of the blast, the Gypsy caught fire and it was seen driven for about 10 metres before it came to a halt. The AR personnel were also seen dousing the fire using water from the nearby drains.
Following the explosion, Singjamei Keithel literally broke up.
Later a number police officials including SSP L Kailun, Additional SP AK Jhaljit and Commando OC Th Krishnatombi inspected the site. A commando team recovered pin of a Chinese hand grenade about 20 metres away from the spot of explosion.
Some other people who witnessed the explosion said that the grenade might have slipped down from one of the AR personnel travelling in the Gypsy.
