MOREH, July 5: A non Manipuri was reportedly shot dead by another non-Manipuri today at about 1:55 pm at Kak Jee gate near Tamil Sangam Office in Moreh Ward No 4. The deceased has been identified S Sunmugaraj (40), son of (L) Shantiviram of Moreh Ward No 3. He was a butcher was profession.
The person who allegedly shot him dead has been identified as V Pulliya alais V Pulliyan Devan (39), son of Balaswami of Dalpati Leikai in More Ward No 2.
According to the locals, Pulliya called out Sunmugaraj while the latter was watching TV. He was shot dead allegedly by a USA made P Beretta pistol by Pulliya.
Sunmugaraj received bullet injuries on his head, left portion of his chest and on the right side of his waist. After hearing the news, Moreh police commandos and 9th Assam Rifles rushed to the spot and conducted a search operation. Four projectiles were recovered from the crime scene. Locals said that after hearing the gun shots, they went to check and found Sunmugaraj lying in a drain. He was rushed to the 9th Assam Rifles hospital in an autorickshaw by the locals but succumbed on the way to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses informed the media that they saw the accused entering the 9th Assam Rifles post riding a Bajaj discover motorcycle. However, Assam Rifles personnel maintained that the accused was apprehended on the way.Meanwhile, an angry mob burnt down the motorcycle which the accused person was riding. After hearing the news of the accused taking shelter inside 9th AR post, a large number of people gathered in front of the 9th AR post demanding for the accused to be handed over to them.
Later, they moved to Moreh police station to wait for the accused person there and in the late evening the accused was brought to the police station by a team of Moreh police along with the USA made P Beretta pistol which was allegedly used in committing the crime along with a case of live bullets and the four projectiles recovered from the crime scene. The accused has been transferred to Imphal by the Moreh police.