IMPHAL, January 7: A man was killed yesterday while allegedly trying to fit a bomb along the road side near Konthong Lairembi along the NH 2 about 2km north east of Moreh Police station, Chandel.
The incident happened yesterday around 8:55pm. While family members of the deceased has claimed that he had no relations or links with any underground outfit, the Hills Tribal Council, Moreh and the Meitei Council Moreh have condemned the incident and appealed to all concerned not to repeat such incidents in the area.
The man has been identified as Thangminlal Haokip, 25 son of Thanglen Haglen of Ward No 8, M Chanon Village. His legs were torn at both ankles, his palm and fingers were torn and his face bore marks of splinters from the explosion, informed a source.
A Kenbo 125 vehicle was also found alongside the roadside a little farther from his body and a set of batteries along with a remote control was also recovered, the source said.
According to the police, the victim could have been earlier riding the Kenbo, which is a popular vehicle in Myanmar and he could have triggered the explosive while trying to fit it to a culvert killing him instantly.
Family members have maintained that Thangminlal Haokip had been missing since four five days and that he must have been instigated by certain individuals to fit the explosives in return for money.
The dead body has been shifted to the JNIMS morgue for post mortem.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, locals of Wahengkhong some 8kms north of Yairipok police heard gun shots late last night and recovered a dead body with bullet injuries this morning around 8am from Changam Dabi Loukon. The dead body was found with bullet holes on the head, chest and back. He had suffered around five bullet hits. A Chinese hand grenade, M-16 live round, bullet empty case was also recovered from near the dead body.
The dead body is yet to be identified. Sources said the body look to be about 25-30 years old and is fair complexion. The dead person was found wearing a grey jacket with Adidas written on the chest, a brown jersey, black pants and a pair of hunting boots. The dead body is lying at the JNIMS mortuary after post mortem.