In what appeared to be another poll related killing in Manipur, a police personnel and his cousin brother were shot dead by miscreants in Manipur’s Imphal West district on January 9 night.
Families of the deceased as well as chief minister N Biren Singh alleged that the killing was related to the upcoming assembly poll in the state.
The deceased were identified as Abujam John (58) and Abujam Sashikanta alias Tomba (42). Both hailed from Samurou Awang Leikai.
Sashikanta was a police personnel posted at the special commando unit. They were shot at by miscreants who came on a car and a motorbike while they were talking on the street in front of Machu Cinema at Samurou Bazar around 9.30 pm on January 9, a police source said.
Abujam John succumbed to bullet injuries at Raj Medicity hospital in Imphal on January 10 morning, around 4 am, while Abujam Sashikanta died at Advance hospital in Imphal late January 9 night.
Denouncing the killing, locals of Samurou area blocked Mayai Lambi state highway from early morning on January 10 demanding the arrest of the assailants. While blocking the road, they also burnt tyres and wood at various places to disrupt vehicular movement.
A strong police team rushed to the spot and dispersed the protesters using force to resume normal traffic after a brief tussle with the irate protestors.
Meanwhile, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh paid a visit to the houses of the deceased persons and shared pains suffered by the families.
Talking to the media, the chief minister said that the killing was in connection with the upcoming poll.
Last month, a younger brother of a Congress worker was killed by some masked gunmen who also wounded his father in the aftermath of a violent clash between workers of BJP and Congress in Heirok assembly constituency in Thoubal district.
The elections to the 60-seat Manipur assembly will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
