Imphal, April 21 2010: In two separate incidents, unidentified gunmen shot dead two persons including the younger brother-in-law of a Pradhan of Gram Panchayat last night.

In the first incident which took place at around 6.30 pm at Lamboikhul Makha Leikai under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East district, two unidentified gunmen who came asking for the Pradhan of Uyumpok Gram Panchayat, Lairenlakpam Ongbi Leirentombi (40) and her husband Basanta (42), opened fire causing serious injury to the younger brother-in-law of the Pradhan.

The victim is identified as Amudon alias Ibomcha (35).Ibomcha succumbed to his injuries at Shija Hospital after midnight.

According to Pradhan Leirentombi, she was staying inside the house along with her husband and children when they heard the voice of some unidentified men asking to open the door at around 6.30 pm yesterday.

When demanded to know the identity of the callers, they simply replied 'it is us'.

As some persons who identified themselves as members of the proscribed KCP (City Meetei) group had earlier served extortion note, she though it must be the same persons and slipped through the back door and hid in the neighbouring house while her husband Basanta stayed back along with her 3 year old daughter Memsana and her youngest son who is not even 2 years old.

However, by the time the unidentified armed persons gained entry by breaking down the door, Basanta had also hidden himself while youngest son was taken care of by his grandfather Yaiskul.

Not knowing what to do, the unidentified armed persons took away 3year old Memsana.

Yaiskul tried to dissuade the armed persons from taking away Memsana.

But they did not listen and left.

At the relevant time, Amudon alias Ibomcha was returning home after closing his shop at Keibi Awang Leikai crossing for the night when he came across the two unidentified armed persons and tried to stop them from taking away the child near the outhouse.

Ibomcha pleaded not to take the child.

But instead of listening, the unidentified armed persons opened fire at Ibomcha and fled from leaving behind Memsana.

According to eyewitnesses, the armed persons were three in number and they came together in a Honda Activa.

But only two of them entered the house of the Pradhan.

Ibomcha was immediately rushed to JNIMS for treatment.

But as his condition was serious, he was later referred to Shija Hospital where he breathed his last at around 1.30 am.

Ibomcha was a would-be bridegroom whose date of marriage has been fixed on May 17 .

Lamlai police station has registered a case and an investigation has been started into the incident while the body has been handed over to the bereaved family members after post-mortem examination at JNIMS today.

Meanwhile, after a public meeting at Lamboi Khul Ereima ground today, a JAC has been formed in protest against the killing.

The meeting has given three days' deadline to all concerned for coming out with an explanation on the incident as well as to the Government for arresting the culprits and punishing them in accordance to the law of the land.

Calling upon all the UG groups operating in Manipur to find out which groups are purportedly working for the welfare of the people and which are there to extort money from the people and led the people know through media by April 24, the meeting decided that any group which fails to give a response to this call would be socially boycotted by the people of Uyumpok Gram Panchayat.

Furthermore, it has been decided to restrict entry of outsiders at night in areas under the jurisdiction of Uyumpok Gram Panchayat.

Demanding setting up of a police outpost in the area, the meeting also decided that the JAC would approach the Government for consideration of these demands within April 24 .

In case the Government fails to implement the demands, then a 24-hour general strike would be called with effect from 6 am of April 25 .

A joint meeting of the Gram Panchayat Pradhans under Imphal East-I (Sawombung Block) has strongly condemned the killing of Ibomcha and shared in the grief of the bereaved family.

In the second incident, unidentified armed persons shot dead an 18-year old youth identified as Hidangmayum Bishorjit alias Nanao Sharma s/o Bhumeshore of Leimapokpam Khunpham near Chingphu Keithel under Nambol Police Station of Bishnupur district at around 8.30 pm yesterday.

It is said that Bishorjit had gone out from home in the evening yesterday.

He was returning home after seeing off a friend at Chingkhu Keithel when unidentified armed persons pumped two bullets into his head.

The body has been handed over to his family members after post-mortem examination at RIMS today.

Along with registering a case, Nambol police has started an investigation into the incident.

Comment