IMPHAL, Nov 22: In a shocking incident a 66 year old, farmer, was beaten to death by armed miscreants this morning around 11 am atop Mapaoching hillock, under Heingang police station Imphal east district.
The deceased, Ngangom Kuber, 66, s/o (L) Mangi of Chingmeirong Maning Leikai Khonangani Karak is the husband of Ng. Gambhini, member of Nungpakthabi Gram Panchayat.
According Leirenjam Manitombi of Heingnang, a witness, the deceased along with five including her, were forced to scale the nearby hillock, by two armed miscreants, while they were working at the paddy field of Kuber situated at Awang Potshangbam.
The witness said the miscreants approached them firing several rounds from their guns in the air and took them to the nearby hillock.
Even as they were climbing the armed men started assaulting Kuber for not lagging behind.
After reaching the hilltop, the six of them were separated, three women and three men.
The sources also said that the miscreants were contacting someone through their phone and minute later, one among them, the driver of a DI truck, which the workers used as their transport, was sent back.
Thereafter the miscreants started interrogating the female workers. They then dragged in Kuber and who was already unconscious.
Further the armed miscreants asked the other companion of Kuber to remain silent about the incident and leave the area taking the dead body of Kuber with them.
It is further reported that after they come down from the hillock with the dead body the paddy field of Kuber and left the place, Kuber`s paddy field was set on fire.
Following the incident, the family members of the deceased along with the locals in protest against the incident staged a protest at Chingmeirong after the corpse of the victim arrived from the scene of crime.
The SDPO of Lamphel police station rushed at the scene and later deposited the body at RIMS morgue after collecting it from the protesting family members and locals.
Meanwhile sources further revealed that the deceased along with his wife, Ng. Gambhini, a member of Nungpakthabi Gram Panchayat, a few months back had fallen victim of armed miscreants wherein Gambini was reportedly hospitalize with fractured hands in connection with a monetary demand of Rs. 3 lakhs by individual identifying themselves as KCP(MC) Sangai Group.
The couple had raised and paid Rs. 2 lakh to the group already, they said.