Imphal: Two BSF jawans were killed and three civilians were injured when a powerful bomb went off in front of a grocery shop near the 49 BSF camp at Koirengei in Imphal West on Wednesday afternoon.

The blast site is about 100 metres from Manipur Public School and less than 1km from the residence of Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh.

The victims were identified as N. Ningthouba Meitei, 30, and Sanjay Tirkey, 28. Both died of their injuries on the way to the hospital.

The injured were identified as M. Premlata, 40, Heisnam Mobi, 35, and Bindiya Thakuri, 19.

Premlata, who is the owner of the grocery shop where the blast took place, is critical and has been admitted to Raj Medicity, a private hospital here.

Mobi, the school van driver of Manipur Public School, who hails from Maiba Khul, Imphal East, has also been admitted.

Bindiya, a resident of Koirengei, received minor injuries.

Biren Singh visited the hospital where the injured civilians were admitted.

"What do they actually want? The government will not remain a silent spectator while they continue to attempt to kill and attack people. I strongly condemn it. The state has laws and I will hunt them down," said the chief minister.

Biren Singh also visited the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences where the bodies of the jawans are being kept.

He said violence would never bring any solution and urged all concerned to extend co-operation to the government in resolving all forms of discord and conflict through democratic and peaceful means.

The blast took place after twin blasts at the IGAR (South) PRO office (Sanjeevani) gate, near Hotel Imphal, injured an Assam Rifles jawan on Tuesday night. The bombs exploded around 6.40pm.

The first bomb exploded in the front of the PRO office gate, while the other exploded at the northern side of the gate near the wall.

The injured jawan was identified as N. Prem Singh of 22 Assam Rifles, Tamenglong, currently working with the IGAR (S) liaison cell PRO. He is a resident of Kakching.

He was rushed to the AR Nodal hospital, Mantripukhri. He is said to be out of danger.

Assam Rifles officers rushed to the blast site and took stock of the situation.