A former village chief, L Riyamkhup Kom (52), was shot dead by suspected Kuki militants in Imphal East district of Manipur, official sources said today.
Sources said about two armed militants barged into the house of Kom at Thayong Khunou village in Lamlai police station on Wednesday night and enquired his wife about him.
When Thangnei said Kom was not at home, the militants searched the house and found him at an isolated bed.
Sources said the attackers took the former Thayong Khunou village chief by force.
Some minutes after, the family and villagers heard gunshots, sources said adding that they found the bullelt-riddled body of Kom who died on the spot near his house.
The body was taken by Lamlai police station personnel to Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital here for post mortem.
Sources said security has been tightened to prevent communal clash between Kukis and Koms at the village and the motive behind the crime was not yet known.
The police said Kuki militants had warned Kom villagers to identify themselves as Kukis, threatening that those who defied the diktat would face dire consequences.
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