Imphal, May 4: A bomb explosion and recovery of an IED following the setting up of a joint militant group has prompted police and security forces in Manipur to be on high alert.

The bomb exploded last night inside a bakery in Imphal and the IED, planted by militants, was recovered from Thoubal district this morning.

The Co-ordination Committee, known as CorCom, of six militant groups had on Thursday announced the formation of a joint fighting force under the aegis of the military commission of the six militant groups to strengthen its force.

CorCom comprises the Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive), Revolutionary Peoples Front and United National Liberation Front.

Though the group has existed for more than two years, the constituent members carried out attacks on security forces separately.

Militants attacked a bakery at Chingmeirong in Imphal with a hand grenade last night, injuring five workers. Assam Rifles personnel on foot patrol detected an IED at Kakching Lamkhai along Imphal-Moreh road in Thoubal this morning. Experts exploded the bomb at a deserted area in the district. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

“We cannot say which groups are responsible for last night’s attack and the IED. But we are not taking chances. All the police stations have been alerted,” a home department official said.

An Assam Rifles source also said patrolling had been intensified along highways where convoys of the army, Assam Rifles and other paramilitary forces regularly move.

“We are always on alert. We expect some disruptive activities as the so-called fighting group will be desperate to do something to prove a point and show their strength. We are prepared for that,” the source said.