Imphal: Ahead of Independence Day, militants in Manipur who have called for a boycott of the celebrations, on August 14 exploded a powerful bomb on a bridge in Imphal West district, killing five bus passengers and injuring 15 others.

The militants exploded the remote controlled device on Lilong Bridge around 5 am (IST) when a bus coming from Chandel district was passing through it, official sources said.

Splinters of the bomb ripped through the bus, killing three passengers on the spot and injuring 15 others. Two of them succumbed on way to hospital. Most victims were small time traders, the sources said.

The bridge and the road leading to it were partially damaged in the blast.

The militants escaped after the blast, the sources said, adding no organisation has claimed responsibility for the blast.

A massive combing operation has been launched in the area where tight security measures were already in place in view of the boycott call by militants and threats of missile attacks and bomb blasts.

Nine militant outfits of the North East states, including Manipur People's Liberation Front, have called for boycott of the Independence Day celebrations.

PTI