Manipur IED blast: The incident was reported around 8 pm in Kakching district. (Representational)
Two personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in poll-bound Manipur on Sunday, officials said.
The incident was reported around 8 pm in the Wangoo Tera area of Kakching district, about 45 kms from state capital Imphal.
Constables Gaurav Rai and Girija Shankar have been injured in the blast, they said. An ITBP party along with a state police personnel were conducting an area domination patrol when the blast took place, they said.
The troops were part of the 'E' company of the 610 ITBP election battalion deployed for poll duties in the state. The injured troops are stated to be out of danger and have been admitted to the Kakching civil hospital.
Five people have been arrested in the case.
They are: Okram Manitomba, Soroikhambam Goroba Singh, Soroikhambam Arbin Singh, Thongam Singhajit Meitei and Irengbam Gitchandra.
The accused were in touch with People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadres from Myanmar and executed the explosions on their directives, said police.
Three detonators, three batteries for remote were also recovered from the accused.
Assembly elections in the northeastern state will be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.