Six injured in Manipur grenade attack

IMPHAL - At least six people were injured, two of them critically, in a grenade attack Friday in the restive northeastern state of Manipur, officials said.

A police spokesperson said militants riding on a motorcycle lobbed the hand grenade at a steel fabrication unit in the Sangeipro area of Imphal around 7.30 p.m.

“All the injured were workers of the steel unit,” a police official said.

The injured were shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal with the condition of two of them stated to be serious.

“We are yet to ascertain the identity of the militant group involved in the attack. But we presume this to be part of rebel attempt to strike ahead of Independence Day,” the official said.

There are more than 19 militant groups active in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to autonomy.

Militant groups in the northeast always tend to step up violent attacks ahead of national celebrations like Independence Day and Republic Day.