Imphal: Three children sustained critical injuries after a country-made bomb exploded while they were playing in Molnoi Kuki village under Pallel police station in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on December 20, police said.
The blast occurred around 12.50 pm. The children reportedly mistook the explosive for a ball while playing in front of a house. Police said one of the minors suffered severe injuries.
The injured have been identified as 10-year-old Hemgou Hou Baite, son of Douthanglen Baite; 8-year-old Jamgubsai Baite, son of Douthangleb Baite; and 8-year-old Ngamgunmang Haokip, son of late Haokholen Haokip.
Locals rushed them to Komlathabi Primary Health Centre. Doctors later shifted them to an Assam Rifles medical facility in Pallel. Due to serious injuries, the authorities referred all three to CMC Hospital in Koirengei for advanced treatment.
Soon after the explosion, Tengnoupal police and security forces reached the site and launched a search operation. They recovered a cache of country-made bombs from an abandoned structure in the area.
“Only one bomb exploded while the children were playing. We are yet to trace the source of the explosives and how they were placed in the village,” a police officer said. Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation.