Eight including three policemen injured in bomb explosion

Imphal, Feb 27 (PTI) Eight persons including three policepersonnel were today injured when unidentified militantshurled a powerful bomb at Hapta area in Imphal east districtof Manipur, official sources said.

Some militants came in a car and lobbed the bomb at aprivate shop injuring the eight persons - three trafficpolice personnel and five civilians - at Hapta area near here,the sources said.

One of the police personnel injured was officer in chargeof traffic in the area N. Angouton, sources said adding that apolice personnel L Iboyaima and a civilian identified as MdKhamba were in "seriously injured."

All the the injured were being treated at a local hospitalhere, sources said.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for theincident.

Sources said the non-payment of monetary demand from theshop by a militat outfit could be one of the reasons but itwas yet to be investigated further.