2 hurt as rebels explode IED near Manipur governor's house

IMPHAL: Rebels on Saturday evening exploded an IED near governor Ashwani Kumar's house. A couple travelling in a car sustained minor injures in the blast.
The couple's car was partially damaged, a source said, adding that the victim couple - Ranjit Singh and his wife Saya Devi - are undergoing treatment at Regional Medical Institue of Sciences Hospital here.
The bomb went off around 4pm at Governor's Road, about 20 metres outside the western compound wall of Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the newly appointed governor.
The blast happened barely 20 days after an underground group lobbed a grenade in front of the gate of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh's bungalow-cum-office secretariat close to Raj Bhavan.
CRPF personnel, who guard and patrol the Raj Bhawan complex, could be a target as the spot is frequented by the paramilitary force troops, a police officer said.
Seconds after the blast, top police and paramilitary officers rushed to the spot and carried out a preliminary investigation. Some splinters were found in the area. Bomb squads also scanned nearby areas.
Following the blast, adequate security measures were taken up in and around Raj Bhavan and Imphal city. "We have began a probe to ascertain how the militants breached the high-security area and carried out the blast," superintendent of police (Imphal West) K Jayanta told TOI.
Saturday's explosion was the third attack on Raj Bhavan in less than five years. Rebels had parked a car laden with bombs inside the governor's house on September 18, 2009. Militants had also lobbed two hand grenades inside Raj Bhavan some time ago.
No rebel group has claimed responsibility for Saturday's attack till the time of filing the report.