Death toll in Manipur blast rises to nine

, Sept 14: Death toll in

rose to nine with a person succumbing to injuries late last night, official sources said.

Sources today said eight persons were killed on the spot at Khoyathong area here in the second bomb explosion and 10 others sustained injuries by the splinters of the bomb. In the first blast at Khurai area here, two persons sustained injuries, sources said, adding that both the bombs were IED (improvised explosive devices).

While no individual or group has claimed the second blast, which killed nine labourers (all non-Manipuri persons) and injured ten persons, the first blast which injured two persons was claimed by banned People's Liberation Army (PLA), sources said.

The two persons who were injured in the first blast were local persons, sources said. On June 27, two non-Manipuri persons were killed and four others sustained injuries when unidentified persons exploded a powerful bomb at Uripok area near here, sources said.

PTI