Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 09:
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a 34 year old man said to be a former agent of betel leaf (mitha pati) at Akampat Road yesterday night.
The shooting reportedly took place at around midnight near a power transformer and the spot of the killing is under the jurisdiction of Imphal East district police.
The slain man has been identified as Aribam Basantakumar s/o A Achouba from Brahmapur Thangjam Leirak.
Basantakumar is survived by his wife and two children.
The wife is informed to have given birth to the second child some 20 days back.
According to family sources, Basantakumar had given up the betel leaf business and was a member of All Manipur Kom Kwa Maru-Mana (betel nut-leaf) Sales and Plantation Association.
Around 10 pm yesterday, some 5/6 youths called out Basantakumar for �some talks� only to be found dead this morning, they said.
According to the wife, Basantakumar was summoned by an underground outfit some days back and he had even tried to contact the UG group till yesterday afternoon.
Even as the attempt to establish contact and ascertain reason for the �summon� failed, the youths showed up at the house and whisked away Basantakumar.
Presuming that killing might be linked to Basantakumar�s connection with the betel nut and leaf trade, a grieving wife questioned why her husband had to be singled out as there are several others involved in the business.
On receiving reports of the crime, police personnel arrived this morning and besides retrieving the corpse also recovered an empty case of 9mm pistol from the spot.
Basantakumar suffered fatal bullet wound at the head.
The body has been handed over to family members on completion of post mortem at RIMS Morgue today afternoon.
As news spread of Basantakumar�s killing betel leaf dealers cramming at Khwairamband Keithel hurriedly ceased business for the day while the main market place resembled panicky situation.
It is pertinent to mention that an underground organisation had imposed ban on sale or use of tobacco (zarda) that also covered businesses involving betel leaf (meethamana) trade.