Imphal: Unidentified people shot dead a BJP leader in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Tuesday, police said.
Laishram Rameshwor Singh, 55, the convenor of the ex-servicemen cell of the saffron party’s state unit, was murdered near the gate of his residence in Kshetri locality in the morning, police said.
Reports said that two unidentified men came to Thoubal Kshetri Leikai (Ningombam Leirak) in a Mahindra XUV300 white in colour without registration number, and shot Rameshwor from close range.
He received a bullet injury to his chest.
He was admitted to Raj Medicity after the incident but succumbed to his injuries at around 1 p.m. Later, his body was taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences for a post-mortem.
Rameshwor had retired from the Indian Army and was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur, strongly condemned “this inhumane act” and said, “The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice & punished accordingly.”
Taking to Twitter, Manipur BJP wrote, “Anguished to learn about the murder of L. Rameshwor Singh, State Convenor of Ex-Servicemen Cell. We strongly condemned this inhumane act. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be brought to justice and punished accordingly. We have lost a dedicated karyakarta.”
As a mark of respect to the departed soul, the party flew its flag at half-mast at its BJP headquarters, Thambal Shanglen, on Tuesday.
Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, state unit president, strongly condemned the killing of Rameshwar and expressed her sincere condolences to the bereaved family.
“Deeply pained by the sudden demise of ex-serviceman, NK L Rameshwar, who was killed by armed assailants at his residence in Thoubal,” said Chief Minister N Biren Singh, in a tweet.
Jogeschandra H, SP Thoubal, said that the driver of the vehicle, Naorem Ricky Ponting Singh @Amu, of Keinou Thongthak Maning Leikai, Bishnupur, presently staying at Haobam Marak Irom Leikai has been arrested.
Efforts are also underway to nab the main accused, Ayekpam Keshorjit, 44, son of Late A Kunjo of Haobam Marak Irom Leikai, Imphal West, the police officer said. With agency inputs
