Moreh, May 25: At least five persons sustained injuries when unidentified armed persons opened fire and exploded a bomb at a hotel in Namphalong, an important centre of Indo-Myanmar border trade, located next to Moreh at around 3 pm today.

Following the violent incident, the border area has been sealed and a joint meeting of the Myanmarese Army and the Assam Rifles was held to discuss the situation.

Two of the injured persons have been identified.

They are Ramu of Moreh Ward No.6 and Abung of Moreh Ward No..7 All the injured persons have been admitted to a hospital at Tamu where their conditions are stated to be out of danger.

According to information culled from the site of the incident, the unidentified gunmen launched the attack at the hotel, You and Me located near Gate No.II of Namphalong by firing several rounds and later triggered a bomb.

All the injured persons were having tea and snacks inside the hostel when the incident took place.

After the attack, the unidentified gunmen were seen fleeing toward the Tamil Mandir on Moreh side, eyewitnesses said.

Soon after the incident, the border was sealed and a joint meeting of Myanmarese Army and the Assam Rifles was held at the Immigration Office of Moreh to discuss the situation.

Myanmarese Army was led by LIC Major The Hlien and the Assam Rifles was led by CO in-charge of 24 AR Col MU Gaded during the meeting.

ROP along the border area has also been intensified.

Though the border has been sealed following the violent incident, it is likely to reopen tomorrow if the situation improves.

Auto service resumes: After remaining suspended for the last few days, the service of the autorickshaw at the border Moreh town resumed from today.

The decision to resume the service was arrived at following an understanding during a meeting of the all communities at the office of Hill Tribal Council (HTC), Moreh this afternoon.

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