3 of marriage party killed in ambush bid on troops in Manipur

Imphal, February 20: Three innocent civilians of a marriage party were killed and six others were seriously wounded in what was apparently a botched ambush attempt on a security convoy this evening near the Imphal College on the Tiddim road on the outskirts of Imphal city. Three occupants of a jeep carrying the cameraman covering the marriage were killed and six others were injured when an improvise explosive device (IED) exploded this evening at around 7 pm in front of the Imphal College under Singjamei police station. According to sources the incident occurred while the marriage party was heading towards the bridegroom's residence, located at Malom Mayai Leikai after the end of the marriage ceremony at the bride's residence. The sources said the jeep carrying the cameraman was trying to overtake the rest of the vehicles of the marriage party when the powerful bomb exploded. The jeep, which took the full impact of the blast, was hurled several feet, and three of its occupants were killed on the spot, while six others were injured. Sources among the victims further said an Army convoy was just passing by when the bomb exploded. The sources added that they sought help from the occupants of the Army convoy, but the latter drove away without any attempt to help the victims. The deceased persons have been identified later as Moirangthem Deven Singh alias Isho 35 of Malom Awang Leikai, Chingtham Bikram Singh 21 of Malom Tuliyaima and Chandam Manihar 42 of Chandam Mayai Leikai Malom. The injured persons were evacuated to the RIMS hospital and are identified as Nongmeikapam Ibothoi, 26 of Chinga Makha a camera man of SEEN TV, Chingtham Mohindro 47, Chandam Laksmikant 23 both residents of Malom Awang Leikai, Wahengbam Selungbam and Moirangthen Itombi both residents of Huikap Awang Leikai. In the meantime, official source said that the incident was suspected to be a botched attempt by some underground elements to target the Army convoy that was passing by at the time of the blast.