Imphal, January 24: An active worker of the Congress party who was reportedly called out from his house by some persons on the pretext having some talks in connection with the upcoming Assembly election was found shot dead last night.

The incident occurred at Mayanglanging Taning Mayai Leikai under Lamshang Police Station at around 8.20 pm yesterday.

The victim has been identified as Yumkhaibam Gopen Singh (32) s/o Yumkhaibam Girani of Mayang Langjing Taning Leikai.

He was not only an SK oil agent of the 17/66 Lamshang AC ward no.6 but was also an active worker of Lamshang AC MLA W Brajabidhu who is again contesting the election from the same Constituency on Congress ticket this time.

In protest against the killing, incensed local people have indefinitely blocked the Imphal-Ukhrul road with immediate effect from today.

Along with formation of a JAC during a meeting held at Mayang Langjing Community Hall, the local people have taken various resolutions including not to take back the body if the killers are not arrested.

Talking to mediapersons, Renubala, wife of Gopen informed as there was no electricity, the family decided to retire for the night early last night and they were just putting off the inverter, when some unidentified persons came to their house at around 8.20 pm and asked for Jibon, one of the elder brothers of Gopen, saying they have something to talk about on election.

When her mother-in-law informed that Jibon had shifted to the house located at the behind, the unidentified persons again asked for Gopen.

Finally when the door was opened, one unidentified person clad in grey jacket came inside and woke up Gopen who had retired for the night and later they went out together on the pretext of having some talks on election.

When Gopen failed to return after some time, the family members went out with lanterns and found no one there.

Immediately, all the neighbours were alerted and a search for Gopen started.

While the search was going on, they heard three-four rounds of gun shots.

Though Gopen remained traceless the whole night, his body was found lying at a paddy field at Mayang Langjing Awang Leikai today morning.

The body was picked up by Lamshang Police today and has been kept at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital here.

Police have reportedly recovered an empty cartridge of AK-47 Rifles from the side of the crime and a case has been registered in connection with the incident.

Along with the formation of the JAC against the killing of Yumkhaibam Gopen, the public meeting held at Mayang Langjing Community Hall has taken various resolutions including not to take back the body until the killers have been arrested, to restrict entry of outsiders in Mayang Langjing area after 6 pm, to ban use of laud speakers for election campaigning in the area or organising feasting and to appeal to all concerned including underground outfits and candidates concerned to come out with an explanation on the incident and to boycott all the concerned if they fail to do so.

JAC has also reportedly submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this connection later in the evening.

Meanwhile, Lamshang AC MLA and Congress candidate W Brajabidhu has strongly condemned the killing.

United People's Front (UPF), Manipur for which slain Gopen was also the vice president of its Mayang Langjing General Council has condemned the killing describing as inhuman and barbaric.

In a statement issued by its general secretary Bikramjit, UPF has also demanded arrest of the killers and giving befitting punishment to them.