Imphal, April 21 2010: Uncle had saved the life of his niece but lost his own life as he was pumped into with bullets by the gunmen who attempted to take away his three year-old niece in place of her mother, a Gram Panchayat Pradhan, who was found absent when the armed men came calling.

Decrying the act of the gunmen suspected to be underground activists, the villagers of Lamboikhun, where the incident occurred, threatened to call bandh on April 25 if the responsible group fails to clarify on the incident, and if the government fails to ensure security of the villagers within the next three days.

The ill-fated incident occurred at the house of woman pradhan of Uyumpok Gram Panchayat, Lairenlakpam Leiren of Lamboikhun under Lamlai police station of Imphal east district last night, at about 7 pm.

The man who succumbed to his bullet injuries while saving his niece was identified as Lairenlakpam Ibomcha alias Amudon (33) son of L Yaiskul.

He was running a grocery shop at the village.

He succumbed to his bullet injury today morning.

Eye-witness account said that the incident occurred last night at about 7 pm.

When Ibomcha along with two other local friends including the husband of the pradhan named Basanta entered to the house of pradhan last night, three gunmen were found already at the verandah of the house.

With a threatened to shoot at by pointing towards Ibomcha, the gunmen forced to break the front door of the house where Ibomcha's parent, Yaiskul and Purnimashi along two little children of the pradhan were inside the house.

When the door was knocked from outside the pradhan along with her husband remained hiding after going out at the back door of the house.

They put Yaiskul at gunpoint and threatened him to shoot at if he fails to disclose whereabouts of the pradhan and her husband.

After some exchange of words, the gunmen abducted three year old daughter of the pradhan, Memsana and went out of the house, the witness account said.

When Ibomcha run after them and requested them not to take away the little girl, one of the gunmen turned towards him and shot at him to injure at the belly with the small gun in his hand.

They left behind the girl and left the place soon.

Injured Ibomcha was immediately at JNIMS Hospital where he was referred to Shija Hospital as his condition becomes serious.

He succumbed to his bullet injury at about 2 am at Shija Hospital, family members said.

Decrying the act of the gunmen suspected to be activists of an underground group, villagers of Lamboikhun staged a sit-in protest at the village today.

A public meeting followed by in which a five point demands was resolved to place before the Chief Minister.

Among others, the demand include pressing the state authority to book the culprits within the next three day and assurance from the government to safeguard lives of innocent people by opening a police outpost and deploying adequate security for the security of the villagers.

While demanding clarifications from underground groups if any of them involved in the incident within the next three days, the meeting also resolved to boycott all activities of underground outfits in the village.

The meeting also demanded compensation to the deceased family from the government side.

If government fails to convert into work the demands, the meeting also resolved to call 24-hour statewide bandh effective from 6 am of April 25 .

The meeting also resolved to ban entry of outsiders in the village at the night time from 6 pm to 6 am everyday with immediate effect.

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