Seven Armymen injured in bomb attack, five civilians beaten up

IMPHAL, April 24: At least seven army jawans of the 15 JAT Regiment were reported to be seriously wounded when a powerful bomb exploded near the foothill of Lamprai Ching along NH 39 at Khonghampat Awang Leikai under Sekmai police station around 3.45 pm today. In the follow up action, the army personnel allegedly thrashed five civilians who were grinding stones at a nearby place. The incident happened when the convoy of the 15 JAT Regiment in four vehicles were going towards Leimakhong from Imphal. The bomb which was believed to have been activated by using a remote device exploded after two vehicles had crossed the spot. The blast caused heavy damages to two vehicles coming in the rear and injuries to the personnel. Soon after the blast, the personnel of JAT Regiment roughed up live laborers who were grinding stones at the roadside a short distance from there. The army also launched a massive combing operation in and around the nearby villages till late evening. Three laborers out of the five who sustained serious injuries in the beatings by the army have been admitted at the JN hospital here. They are identified as Irom Aiso (40), Laishram Premjit (17), both residents of Khonghampat Awang Leikai and Ved Nath (38), who hails from Cuttack in Orissa. The other two laborers who were allegedly beaten up by the army jawans are Khwairakpam Ningthou (50) of Khonghampat Awang Leikai and Kulla (60) of Wabagai. Meanwhile, sources informed that all the injured army jawans are being treated at the Leimakhong army hospital. However, their identities have not been revealed.