The body of a man with stab wounds was found on a roadside at Thoubal Sabal Tongba Salam under Thoubal police station at around 6.30 am Friday, sources said.
Police said the deceased has been identified as one Ashutosh Prasad, 35, son of Siyaram Prasad from Mirpur in Bihar. His body was discovered by morning joggers.
It is learnt that Prasad used to live alone at a rented house at Governor road, Paona bazaar. He ran a shop which sold leather bags and purses.
As per eyewitness account, his body was found with around 20 stab wounds on his abdomen. There were knife injuries on his back as well and his throat was slit by a sharp object.
Near the spot where he was allegedly murdered, police found a kitchen knife and a sickle. It is suspected that he was severely tortured before being murdered, police said.
The body has been collected by a team of forensic science along with a police team, and kept at the mortuary of RIMS for conducting post-mortem.
A case has been registered in connection with the incident and investigation is under way to arrest the culprits.
One Achhelal Bhagat, who is the brother-in-law of the deceased, told the media that Prasad was working at his shop till 6 pm. His room was found unlocked but it could not be confirmed if Prasad had returned to his rented house after work, he added.