Imphal, November 22, 2009: In a gruesome incident, a 65 year-old man was brutally murdered in front of five other persons including three women allegedly in connection with extortion today.

The aged old farmer, who was working in his paddy field, was beaten to death by two armed persons, who identified themselves as activists of KCP (MC) led by Sangai Rajen at Nungpakthabi under Sekmai police station of Imphal west.

Irate residents of Chingmeirong Khongnang Anee Karak blocked the traffic along the NH-39 in their locality.

The residents kept the dead body of the old man, identified as Ngangom Kuber, son of late Mangi of Chingmeirong Khongnang Anee Karak Makha Leikai, on the roadside.

Reports said, two armed persons who claimed themselves to be activists of KCP(MC), Sangai Rajen abducted him along with five other persons including three women, working in his field located at Nungpakthabi to harvest paddy.

Kuber went to Nungpakthabi village with around 30 hired hands for harvesting his paddy of three parees in two vehicles, a 407 Tata and a Maruti car.

At about 11 am, the two men armed with small guns came to the field where they were working and opened fire in the air.

While doing so, all the workers in the field were forced to lie on the ground.

Later, they selected Kuber along with five other persons, Ngangom Jibanjubarani, wife of Nillababu, Thiyam Ibecha (45), wife of Manimohon of Khoijuman, presently staying at Chingmeirong, Takyenjam Manitombi, wife of Sanajaoba and two drivers of the 407-Tata were taken away in the vehicle.

They also set fire to the just reaped paddy along with the materials used in the harvesting before leaving the field.

They also informed the other people in the field that they were abducting the six persons in connection with lost of Rs 1,80,000. They also alleged that wife of Kuber, Vanu, member of the Potshangbam Gram Panchayat ward no.5 acting as informer in police commandos pointing out their shelters.

Kuber was started beating up by the armed men while they were travelling the vehicle.

After stopping the vehicle at the foothill, all the six persons were forced to claim up the uphill.

When Kuber complaint of unable to proceed, he was again beaten up and before reaching the hill top, he fainted, told other person who were freed later unharmed.

On seeing the condition of aged old man, the two gunmen asked the other five persons to back with fainted Kuber.

They also took away two mobile phones from them, one of the women among the five said.

In the meantime, family members said that on 21st of last month, some persons said to be activists of KCP (MC), Sangai Rajen came to the house and said that they were searching for Kuber and his wife for the last six months.

While asking Kuber whether he know them, they demanded Rs 3 lakhs and beaten up them after taking them to the hill nearby.

Kuber and Vanu were kept confirmed in an isolated house, threaten pay the money within the next three day without supplying food.

On the third day brother of VanuTakyeljam Sanajoaba went to the house where his sister and brother-in-law.

At that time, the unknown persons who took them into custody asked to pay the amount and take away them.

On the next day, Sanajoaba negotiated at Rs 1 lakh and paid the money at Motbung where they called to come.

Both Kuber and Sanajoaba were admitted at RIMS hospital for medical treatment as they were beaten up badly.

Due to severe injury, Vanu was later treated at Guwahati.

Decrying the murder of Kuber residents of Chingmeirong area rose up and staged sit-in protest at Khongnang Anikarak keeping the dead body of Kuber in front of them.

They also blocked the NH-39 for sometime.

Police who arrived there took away the dead body and kept at RIMS morgue for official procedure.

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