BSEM Chairman shot dead inside office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2011: Chairman of Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) Dr Naorem Kunjabihari Singh (60) has been shot dead by some armed persons inside his office chamber located in Babupara, a high security zone.

According to a source, some unidentified armed persons entered his office chamber at around 3.30 pm today and opened fire at the officer.

Dr Kunjabihari was reportedly found collapsed in his office room.

with none of the Board personnel aware about the incident or spotting any injury marks, initially, some of the Board staff speculating that the Chairman might have suffered stroke due to high blood pressure rushed him to RIMS Hospital, where the doctors present pronounced the him as 'brought dead' .

Dr Kunjabihari, who suffered bullet wounds on the right hand and chest areas, was from Kakwa Naorem Leikai (Sofa Leirak) under Imphal West district.

After serving for about five years as Secretary of Council of Higher secondary Education Manipur, Dr Kunjabihari was promoted as Chairman of the Board about three months back.

It is informed that having presided over a meeting of the Board at around 11 am today, the Chairman was alone inside his office chamber.

Mention may be made that apart from Babupara being a residential area of VIPs such as Ministers and MLAs and high ranking officials, office of the Board is located opposite to Imphal police station across NH-39 .

Moreover, office of the Accountant General is the only building between the police headquarters and the spot of incident with the Chief Minister's official bungalow also close-by.

Denouncing the killing, locals of Kakwa Naorem Leikai and surrounding areas resorted to blockade of Imphal-Moreh NH-39 stretch at Naorem Leikai section.

The protest was on till filing of this report.

On the otherhand, information has been recieved about formation of a JAC, which has convened an emergency public meeting at Laishram leikai playground at 8 am tomorrow to discuss further course of action.

The JAC as well as family members have condemned the killing and demanded immediate clarification from those responsible for the gruesome act.

Reacting swiftly to the incident, Manipur People's Party MLA O Joy Singh told The sangai express that Dr Kunjabihari being a victim of conspiracy hatched by some sub-ordinate officials in connivance with armed miscreants cannot be ruled out.

Asserting that Dr Kunjabihari was the only officer who fulfilled service rules and regulations meriting such a responsible post, the veteran politician speculated that some officers with incompatible portfolio could be involved in the conspiracy.

sharing similar sentiment as the Langthabal AC legislator, family members disclosed that they were informed about Dr Kunjabihari being taken to Hospital with suspected case of high Blood Pressure only to spot injury wounds and bleeding.

Even as the victim's body has been deposited at RIMS morgue for the post mortem examination, police have sealed the entire office complex of the Board for investigation, likely to resume tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, Manipuri Students' federation has conveyed strong condemnation against the killing of Dr Kunjabihari.In a statement issued tonight, the student body observed that audacity of the assailants to gun down the Chairman within the high security location is a testimony of the Govt's all round failure and inefficiency of the State machinery.

describing Dr Kunjabihari as an individual who dedicated his life for the betterment of the students, MSF also demanded clarification from those involved in the criminal act.

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