Manipur Shooting: Labourers from Jharkhand Targeted in Imphal Attack | Guwahati News - Times of India

Source: The Times of India
Author: Kangkan Kalita

Guwahati: The man shot dead by armed assailants in Imphal on Saturday night has been identified as a labourer from Jharkhand's Godda district, police said. Two other labourers, also fromGodda, sustained bullet injuries in the attack. All three were hired by real estate developers and construction companies for a project in Imphal. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

In strife-torn Manipur, people from outside the northeast or other states were not previously targeted during the ongoing conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis, a police officer said, adding that the motive behind this attack remains unclear. The official described the latest attack as an act of armed miscreants. Police have registered a suo moto case in this regard.

The incident occurred around 8pm on Saturday when the miscreants opened fire at the three non-locals in the Uripok Naoremthong area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Lamphel police station in Imphal West district.

The deceased was identified as Shree Ram Hangsada (41). The two injured individuals are Bittu Murmu (22) and Mitalan Soren (50). "The condition of the injured is stable," a police officer said.

Soon after they were shot at, the injured were rushed to the Regional Institute of Medical Science (Rims) while the body of the deceased was kept in the mortuary of the same hospital. Later, the injured were shifted to a private hospital in Imphal East.

"We have registered a case and an investigation is on. A search operation has also been initiated to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack. We will also investigate whether the culprits have any affiliations with any organisation," a police officer said.

Another police officer said, "The shooting occurred outside their rented accommodation. Locals rushed to the area immediately after hearing the gunfire only to find the body of the deceased and the injured on the ground."

According to reports, quoting local police officials, the assailants forcibly dragged the labourers out of their rented accommodation before shooting them from a close range. A team from the state forensic science lab and police swiftly arrived at the scene following the incident but the assailants had fled by then.