Shutdowns disrupted life in parts of Manipur after twin attacks in Kangpokpi and Noney districts killed four people.
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IMPHAL — Hours after the killing of three church leaders in an attack in Kangpokpi district, a Chiru Naga man from Dolang village was also killed, while his wife and driver sustained injuries after suspected armed militants allegedly opened fire on their vehicle near Joujangtek village in Noney district around 6.30 pm on Wednesday.
The victim was identified as Wilson Thanga. His body was evacuated to the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal.
On Thursday, Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas and several Naga MLAs, including Awangbow Newmai, Dinganglung Gangmei, SS Olish, Khashim Vashum and Janghemlung Panmei visited the mortuary and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
However, Wilson Thanga’s family members, along with the Chiru Union, announced that they would not claim the body until the government assured action against those responsible for the attack.
Related: Three church leaders killed, five injured in Manipur ambush
Terming the attack “highly condemnable,” Chiru Union general secretary Daniel said that the union and the family demanded immediate arrest of the perpetrators, compensation and a government job for a family member.
Normal life affected
Normal life came to a standstill across Chandel, Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts of Manipur on Thursday due to separate shutdowns called by Kuki Inpi, Thadou bodies and Naga organisations in protest against the killing of three church leaders and a Chiru Naga civilian in separate incidents.
Three church leaders belonging to the Thadou community were killed in an attack by unknown armed persons near the Saheibung area in Kangpokpi district around 10.30 am on Wednesday, while a Chiru Naga man was killed near the Joujangtek area in Noney district in a similar attack around 6.30 pm the same day.
In view of the shutdowns called by Thadou bodies in Kangpokpi, Kuki student organisations in Churachandpur and the Chandel Naga People's Organisation in Chandel, government offices reported low attendance, while schools and colleges remained shut in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Chandel districts.
Markets remained deserted, and public transport was largely off the roads as community groups enforced shutdowns in protest against the killings.
Vehicular movement along National Highways 2 and 37 was also severely affected due to the shutdowns. However, no untoward incident had been reported till the filing of this report.