Tension gripped parts of Manipur on Monday after a series of improvised explosive device (IED) blasts were reported from the Saiton–Nganukon area in Bishnupur district. The blasts took place at an abandoned house located under Phougakchao police station limits, an area that falls within the security cover of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
According to reports, three explosions occurred in the early hours of the morning. The first two blasts were recorded between 5:40 am and 5:55 am, followed by a third explosion at around 8:30 am, jolting residents out of their sleep. The repeated blasts triggered panic in the locality, with many people stepping out of their homes in fear.
Officials said the explosives had been planted at the abandoned house and went off one after another. Security forces rushed to the location soon after the incidents and launched a search and sanitisation operation to ensure there were no additional explosive devices in the area. 
During the second blast, two local residents were injured when they reportedly went near the abandoned house to see what had happened after the first explosion.
The injured have been identified as:
- Nongthombam Indubala Devi (37), wife of late N. Bishworjit Singh of Saiton Haiyaikon Maning Leikai
- Soibam Sanatomba (details awaited)
Both suffered injuries due to the impact of the blast. Neighbours helped shift them to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Authorities said their condition is stable, though they are under observation.
Security personnel have cordoned off the site and continue to monitor the locality as part of the ongoing probe.
In a separate development, Manipur Police said four militants were arrested from different parts of the Imphal Valley in recent operations.
A member of the banned Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) was arrested from his residence at Kairembikhok Maiyai Leikai in Thoubal district. Another PLA cadre, identified as Laishram Kullabi Meitei (35), was arrested from Liwa Road in Kha Maibam Leikai in Imphal West district.
Police also arrested Laishram Jiban Singh (45), another PLA member, from Chingol in Thoubal district on Sunday. In a separate case, Tensubam Bangkim Singh, a cadre of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (Taibanganba), was arrested from Kongba Khunou in Imphal East district. Police recovered a 9 mm pistol and four live rounds from him.
Separately, a large cache of arms and ammunition was found at Yairipok Top Ningthounai Lai Ching in Imphal East district. The recovery included firearms, IEDs and a Chinese-made hand grenade.
Earlier, security forces also recovered two medium-sized rockets weighing around 40 kg each, along with country-made guns, from Sejang village in Churachandpur district.gations are ongoing.
