Imphal, Aug 11: A CRPF jawan was seriously injured when a powerful bomb, reportedly planted by armed insurgents, exploded at Thamnapokpi area in Bishenpur district of Manipur today, official sources said here. The explosion was caused using a remote-controlled device when personnel of the 7th CRPF Battalion were patrolling the area about 35 km south of here, they said.
Several gunshots were also heard soon after the explosion, the sources said, adding the insurgents escaped to nearby hills after the incident. CRPF jawans launched a massive combing operation and cordoned off the area to nab the insurgents, according to the sources.
Patrolling too has been intensified in the area following reports of infiltration of militants to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations, the sources added. Meanwhile, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
The area is infested by activists of the Manipur People's Army, armed wing of separatist United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the sources said.
Police and security posts have been put on "high alert" in Manipur following a call by several militant outfits in the North East states to boycott the August 15 celebrations. Bureau Report