Imphal, April 25: A 25-year-old youth who was attending a thabal chongba programme at Ukhongshang Mayai Leikai died when he was shot by a constable of Manipur police at around midnight.
According to report, the deceased was identified as Kh Santosh Singh son of Kh Ibohal of Thoubal Athokpam Awang Leikai. He was employed as a teacher at Institute of Rural Education located in Wangjing.
The assailant is the driver of the officer-in-charge of Nonpok Sekmai police station and was identified as Elangbam Rajesh, 30, son of E Achou of Salungpham Mamang Leikai. He has been arrested by the police and is currently undergoing interrogation.
Enraged by the shooting, a mob stormed the house of the assailant this morning and set it ablaze. Subsequently, an impromptu bandh along Imphal-Moreh road was imposed to protest the killing.
Citing the events that could have provoked the shooting, an eyewitness said some persons were playing lagao near the venue of the thabal chongba when they were warned to discontinue by some policemen who arrived there in civil dress. The policemen turned up again later, this time in their uniform and tried to stop the gambling and catch the perpetrators. In the melee one of the policemen fired and Santosh who was watching the dance from the side was hit by the bullet in the stomach.
However, another person who also claimed to have witnessed the shooting asserted that Rajesh fired at Santosh directly from close range.
After being shot on the stroke of midnight, Santosh was rushed to the Thoubal district hospital but he succumbed to his injuries there. His body has been kept at JNIMS Hospital mortuary for medical examinations.
