Imphal: A non local labourer was killed when unidentified gunmen reportedly opened fire at a makeshift camp near the site of a development project in Imphal West district.
Two unidentified gunmen reportedly opened fire at the makeshift camp after breaking the main door on Tuesday night, around 11.20 pm, according to police.
The deceased has been identified as one Riyajul from Assam. He succumbed to bullet injuries at a hospital in Imphal after a brief struggle for life, the police source said.
A bullet that hit the deceased on his stomach exited on the backside.
Officials said that the deceased was among 10 labourers staying at the makeshift camp near the construction site of a bridge on Imphal River at Leiphrakpam under Wangoi police station of Imphal West district.
According to the police, a bridge to connect Imphal West with Lilong of Thoubal district was being constructed under the PMGSY scheme.
None of the other labourers sustained injuries in the indiscriminate firing, the police also said.
The labourers were staying in the makeshift camp for the last around 15 days.
After attacking the labourers, the two miscreants escaped towards Lilong side, police quoted the labourers.
Top officials of police from Imphal West and Thoubal including the superintendent of police of Imphal West visited the site early today morning and took stock of the situation.
During spot inquiry, the police recovered an empty case of a 9 mm pistol, the police source said.
Wangoi police station registered a case and initiated an investigation to find out the culprit(s), the police further said.
Meanwhile, villagers of Laiphrakpam strongly condemned the incident in which a labourer engaged in the developmental project was killed while demanding booking of the culprit(s) at the earliest.
On behalf of the villagers, Khoisnam Arun Singh, former president of Liberal Club, Laiphrakpam, urged the police to book the culprit(s) within three days.
He also demanded security protection to the labourers engaging in the bridge construction while asserting that it was an important project for improving the connectivity of the area.
NNN