Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 30:
A 46-year old man who was called out by unidentified armed persons from his Bashikhong Torban residence under Irilbung Police Station last night was found shot dead at Iroisemba hillock this morning.
The victim has been identified as Athokpam Manja (46) of Bashikhong Torban.
He was a married man having three daughters and two sons.
Manja was earlier working as a peon in Manipur University but was suspended 5 years back.
According to family members, the unidentified persons called out Manja from the side of the backdoor at around 8.40 last night to which Tarubi, his wife told them to come at the front door.
After a while a well built person clad in a white T-shirt and blue jean pant entered the house from the front door and called out Manja who was preparing to have his supper.
After taking Manja to the courtyard, the unidentified intruder demanded to know why he was involving in contract works.
After sometime, another unidentified youth who had been waiting at the gate came inside and took Manja along with him.
After that the unidentified youth forced Manja to sit inside a Gypsy stationed nearby and drove towards the north.
In all three persons had come in the dark-blue coloured Gypsy.
Two of them were in civil dresses and carried small weapons while the other was in the uniform of a police commando with an AK-47 Rifle dangling from his shoulder.
Before coming to the house of Manja, the unidentified armed persons reportedly frisked three youths who were sitting at the waiting shed of Bashikhong Torban and told all the passers-by to go back to their respective houses.
The body of Manja was recovered from near the reservoir of the water supply located atop the Iroisemba hillock this morning.
The body has been picked by Lamphel Police and kept at the mortuary of RIMS.
A bullet fired from just above his left chin exited on the other side.
Police also claimed to have recovered an empty cartridge of 9 mm pistol from the site where the body was found.
Meanwhile, along with the formation of a JAC in connection with the killing of Manja, a memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Minister later in the afternoon.
In the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the JAC demanded the Government to find out the killers and payment of compensation to the bereaved family.
The JAC has also made it clear that it would not take back the body until these demands have been met by the Government.
Apart from seeking clarification from all the UG outfits in connection with the incident, the JAC has imposed restriction on entry of outsiders in Bashikhong Torban area from 6 pm to 6 am every day with effect from today.