Manipur: Suspected Kuki militants explode IED damaging bridge connecting Imphal and Dimapur

Imphal: Suspected Kuki militants reportedly exploded an IED causing damages to a culvert bridge halting the transportation of heavy vehicles plying on the National Highway 102 connecting, Imphal in Manipur and Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland on Wednesday.

The blast by the suspected militants came at a time when Manipur is getting ready for its second phase Lok Sabha election for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat reserved for scheduled tribes slated on April 26.

A major portion of a culvert bridge built over the hill slope drains at a location in between Supermeina and (Koubru) Laikha on the NH 102 in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district was badly damaged when an IED kept along the bridge exploded in the early hours on Wednesday, officials said.

The impact of the blast was so much that glass windows and doors of a nearby church and houses were damaged.

Around 300 goods-laden trucks plying towards Imphal from Assam through Nagaland are stranded on NH 102 to date at the Manipur-Nagaland border.

Though, in the prevailing situation of this strife state, the government authorities blamed the blast on the armed militants belonging to the Kuki tribals, no outfit has claimed responsibility so far.

However, the police have increased security in the area and are conducting searches to find the culprits.

Additionally, this incident came after the security forces conducted operations in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Gangpijang Hill Range, Kangpokpi District on Tuesday.

During the search operations, the following items were recovered: one no. of Assault Rifle with one Magazine, a 12-inch Single Bore Barrel Gun, 23 Live Round Ammunition, and 5 Fired Cartridge Cases.