A college student was shot dead while his father and another person sustained bullet injuries in different poll-related violence that took place on Tuesday night at Heirok assembly constituency in Thoubal district of Manipur.
The deceased has been identified as one Ningthoujam Rohit alias Kunou, 21, son of N Premchandra alias Makar, 53, of Heirok Part II Mayai Leikai. Rohit was a third semester student of Thoubal College.
As told by N Premchandra’s wife, Eshabi, 51, they started hearing sounds of indiscriminate firing coming from Heirok Part-II Mayai Leikai Maning Leirak from around 10 pm. Around 12 midnight, her husband Premchandra and son Rohit went outside on hearing movement of people at their backyard.
On noticing that some miscreants were trying to break into their compound by pushing down the fence, Premananda shouted at them, telling them not to come inside, she said. However, the miscreants who were armed, approached them and opened fire towards Premchandra, she mentioned. Rohit was hiding inside the toilet when they shot him from a point blank range, she alleged.
Both the father and son were rushed to Raj Medicity Hospital. However, Rohit died on the way. He suffered bullet injury below his left chest while his father sustained several bullet injuries above the thigh.
As per Eshabi, her husband Premchandra and Rohit were not involved in any election-related activities but their eldest son, Roshan was involved in working for the Congress party. In connection with the incident, Roshan lodged a complaint report at Heirok Police Station on Wednesday morning.
In the report, he named six persons as directly involved in the crime. They are Thokchom Pruto, 33, son of Th Ibochouba of Heirok Part-II Thokchom Leikai; Ningthoujam Panan, 33, son of N Muhindro of Heirok Part-III Tongbram Leikai; Thokchom Sanathoi alias Lai, 33, son of Th Dijen alias Lakpati of Heirok Part-II Mayai Leikai; Thokchom Henrik alias Naobi, 27, son of Th Ibosana of Heirok Part- I; Laishram Biken, 24, son of L Bimol of Heirok Part- II Mayai Leikai and Khundongbam Nicky alias Anju, 34, son of Kh Rupachandra of Heirok Part-2 Mayai Leikai.
Before the father and son were shot, their neighbour Khundongbam Rakesh, 30, son of Shyam was also shot in the right arm by miscreants in front of Heirok Bazar at around 10.30 pm. He is also being treated at Raj Medicity.
Upon receiving information of the shootout, teams of Thoubal District Police began taking up security measures all across Heirok. For back up, additional forces from Imphal East, West and Bishnupur district have been called in.
Meanwhile, protesting against the violence, womenfolk of the area burnt tyres at the approach road toward Heirok, and held a public meeting. The protesters also took out a rally.
As per the OC of Heirok Police Station, a case has been registered in connection with the incident. However, the identity of those involved in the crime is yet to be established as the investigation has just begun, he said.
At the alleyways and streets of Heirok Part-II Mayai Leikai, several empty cases of bullet rounds were found, sources said.
