Imphal: The death toll from a mortar explosion near a BSF camp in the Churachandpur district of Manipal has continued to rise as one more injured person died on Sunday, raising the death toll to 3.
The mortar explosion occured by accident after several locals picked up an unexploded mortar shell that was lying near the Border Security Force (BSF) subsidiary training centre at Gangpimual area, 4km from Churachandpur police station in Churachandpur district around 7.30 PM on Saturday.
2 men, identified as Mangminlal (a 6 year old child) from the Gangpimual area and Langinsang (22) of Ngathal,Churachandpur, died on Saturday while the other 5 injured were shifted to the Churachandpur hospital on Saturday. It is one of the injured who succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. He has been identified as 18 year old John C.T.
Both the District Commissioner and District Superintendent said no underground or terror outfit had claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Speaking to India Today, both the District Commissioner and District Superintendent said no underground or terror outfit had claimed responsibility for the explosion.
The incident came to light with at a time when there were less than 48 hours to go for the first phase of Assembly polls in Manipur.
Violence is common just before any kind of large-scale elections in the north-eastern state, but an investigation has been called to see whether there was any foul play involved. Security forces are on high alert as Manipur residents will begin to vote on February 28.
There are a total of 433 polling stations in Imphal East, 530 in Imphal West, 234 in Bishnupur, 68 in Kangpokpi and 357 in Churachandpur. Chief Election Officer Rajesh Agarwal said that all the preparation have been made for the smooth conduct of the polls. He informed that the sealing of both the interstate and the international border has begun.
On the sensitive polling stations, he said that such centres have been identified and security has been beefed up in them for free and fair elections.