Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Three people sustained injuries, two of them seriously, in an accidental bomb blast at Joujangtek village along the Imphal–Khoupum road in Manipur’s Noney district on Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED), allegedly being planted by miscreants, exploded prematurely.
Reports indicate that the individuals attempting to plant the device were among those injured. Two of the wounded individuals, identified as Helum and Lemang, were rushed to Churachandpur Medical College.
Following the explosion, a joint team of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police rushed to the scene. An active investigation is currently underway.
The explosion marks the latest escalation in a series of violent incidents in the region.
Less than a week earlier, on June 18, unidentified armed individuals opened fire on local villagers working in their agricultural fields in the same area.
A local farmer sustained bullet injuries to his arm and chest during that attack.
The June 18 incident initially triggered intense frustration among locals, who imposed a blockade on the nearby Old Cachar Road to protest the violence and demand security for their farms.
The blockade was later lifted after government authorities, including the Superintendent of Police of Noney, and village representatives reached an agreement.
Under the agreement, security forces promised to ensure protection for farmers and the supply of essential commodities.
Joujangtek was also the site of a deadly ambush in May 2026, where a couple was seriously injured and another civilian was killed, prompting protests by victims’ families demanding justice.