3 CRPF personnel injured in IED blast in Manipur's Imphal West
Synopsis
Manipur saw multiple security incidents in a single 24-hour span — an IED blast that wounded three CRPF veterans near Singjamei and a militant ambush that killed three Meitei villagers collecting firewood in Kangpokpi. The twin strikes underline how fragile the security situation in the state remains more than three years into its ethnic conflict.
Key Takeaways
Three CRPF personnel — C.
Poonambalam, Ramesh Kumar , and Pabitra Kumar Jena — were seriously injured in an IED blast near Singjamei police station , Imphal West , late on Sunday.
The explosion occurred at Kakwa Lamdaibung Lampak ; the exact cause is yet to be ascertained.
Three Meitei villagers were killed and four others injured when suspected armed militants opened fire on a group of 14 villagers collecting firewood at Khongbal Tangkhul , Kangpokpi district.
Three people were reported missing in connection with the Imphal East incidents.
Additional DGP (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said police are pursuing leads and action will be taken against those responsible.
Security forces including the CRPF, BSF, Army , and Assam Rifles are operating jointly to prevent further escalation.
At least three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were seriously injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Manipur's Imphal West district on Sunday night, officials confirmed on Monday, 19 October 2026. The explosion struck Kakwa Lamdaibung Lampak, in the vicinity of Singjamei police station, adding to a deepening security crisis in the conflict-affected state.
The IED Blast: What Happened
According to a police official, the device detonated late on Sunday at Kakwa Lamdaibung Lampak near Singjamei police station. The three injured CRPF personnel were identified as C. Poonambalam (58), Ramesh Kumar (57), and Pabitra Kumar Jena (56). All three were rushed to a hospital in Imphal and are currently receiving treatment. The exact cause and circumstances of the explosion are yet to be ascertained, officials noted.
What Security Forces Are Doing
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said that police were actively pursuing leads related to the incident and expressed confidence that those responsible would be brought to justice in accordance with the law. The Manipur Police, in close coordination with the CRPF, Border Security Force (BSF), Army, Assam Rifles, and other security agencies, are working continuously to maintain law and order and prevent further escalation, according to a police statement.
Separate Attack Kills Three Villagers in Imphal East
In a separate but related spiral of violence on Monday, three people were killed and several others injured in Manipur's Imphal East district. According to a police statement, suspected armed militants opened fire on a group of approximately 14 villagers who had gone to collect firewood at Khongbal Tangkhul, under Sagolmang police station in Kangpokpi district. Three villagers belonging to the Meitei community succumbed to bullet injuries, while four others were injured and are undergoing medical treatment. Three people were also reported missing in connection with these incidents.
Broader Security Situation in Manipur
Manipur has been gripped by ethnic conflict and insurgent violence since May 2023, with repeated incidents involving IED attacks and militant firing targeting both security forces and civilians. This is the latest in a series of incidents that have stretched the state's security apparatus. Police have urged all sections of society to cooperate with security forces and the administration in maintaining peace. Intensified action, the police said, would be taken against all elements involved, with all legal and operational measures pursued to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Point of View
IED attacks on uniformed personnel and militant ambushes of civilians continue in parallel. The targeting of firewood collectors, a wholly civilian activity, signals a deliberate strategy of terror against ordinary Meitei villagers, not just security forces. Security coordination across CRPF, BSF, Army and Assam Rifles is extensive on paper, but repeated incidents suggest either significant intelligence gaps or a decentralised militant network that is difficult to pre-empt. The state's administration faces a political accountability question that police statements about 'intensified action' do not fully answer.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the IED blast targeting CRPF personnel take place in Manipur?
The IED explosion occurred at Kakwa Lamdaibung Lampak, near Singjamei police station in Manipur's Imphal West district, late on Sunday night. Three CRPF personnel — C. Poonambalam, Ramesh Kumar, and Pabitra Kumar Jena — were seriously injured and hospitalised in Imphal.
Who were the CRPF personnel injured in the Manipur IED blast?
The three injured personnel were identified as C. Poonambalam (58), Ramesh Kumar (57), and Pabitra Kumar Jena (56). All three were admitted to a hospital in Imphal for treatment following the blast.
What happened in the separate militant attack in Manipur's Imphal East?
Suspected armed militants fired on a group of around 14 villagers collecting firewood at Khongbal Tangkhul under Sagolmang police station in Kangpokpi district. Three Meitei community villagers were killed by bullet injuries, four others were injured, and three people were reported missing.
What action are security forces taking in Manipur?
The Manipur Police, in coordination with the CRPF, BSF, Army, and Assam Rifles, are conducting joint operations to maintain law and order. Additional DGP Lhari Dorjee Lhatoo said police are pursuing specific leads on the IED blast and that intensified action will be taken against those responsible.
What is the background of the ongoing violence in Manipur?
Manipur has been experiencing severe ethnic conflict and insurgent violence since May 2023, resulting in repeated incidents of IED attacks, militant firing on civilians, and casualties among security forces. These latest incidents are part of a prolonged security crisis that has defied multiple attempts at resolution.
