Two including CRPF personnel injured in Imphal blast

Imphal, Aug 5 (IANS) Two persons -- a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and a two-year-old baby -- were seriously wounded after a powerful bomb exploded near the State Museum, adjacent to Raj Bhavan here in Manipur capital on Friday, officials said.

The injured personnel and the baby were rushed to hospital where their condition is stated to be stable.

The blast comes at a time when the police and paramilitary forces had beefed up security measures all over the state ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.

Some cars parked near the blast site were damaged by the impact.

Police sources told IANS that no underground organisation has claimed responsibility.

"Within minutes of the blast at 5.40 p.m., we cordoned off the areas for a search operation. However, no suspect could be accounted for. We are conducting operations round the clock," a police officer said.