Attempt to explode gas cylinders before Minister's house

IMPHAL:  Suspected militants attempted to attack the private house of Manipur Agriculture Minister N. Loken at Leimapokpam village in interior Bishenpur district by exploding gas cylinders, official sources said on Thursday.

The militants placed two LPG cylinders at the gate of Loken's home and set them on fire after opening the valves of the cylinders on Wednesday.

However, villagers informed the local police who reached the spot and was able to control the fire before the cylinders exploded, the sources said.

The minister was not at home at the time of the incident. He stays at the official residence at VIP Babupara area here.

Unidentified militants had attacked the same house by firing some months ago.

In another incident, insurgents of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) attacked a security patrol party at Tuitung area in Manipur's Chandel district but no casualty was reported, the sources said.

The ultras fired at the securitymen at a place between Tuitung and Tawang area yesterday and the security personnel returned the fire.