Imphal: A 55-year-old man was shot dead while his wife sustained critical injuries after unidentified assailants broke into their residence at Keirao Wangkhem Mamang Leikai in Manipur’s Imphal East district in the early hours of Sunday, police said.
The deceased has been identified as Ngangkham Thambou, while his 52-year-old wife, Ngangkham Keinatombi, is undergoing treatment in critical condition.
According to police, the incident took place at around 2:30 am when two unidentified men allegedly forced open the front door of the house and attempted to enter the bedroom of the couple’s children.
Thambou confronted the intruders, leading to a scuffle during which one of the assailants allegedly opened fire, killing him on the spot. The attackers then allegedly assaulted Keinatombi with sharp-edged weapons before fleeing the scene.
Keinatombi was initially admitted to Shija Hospital in Langol and was later shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for advanced treatment. Doctors said her condition remains critical.
The incident triggered widespread outrage among local residents, who convened a public meeting and formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC). The committee has demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible by July 22 and announced that the family would not accept Thambou’s body until the accused are apprehended.
A police team, led by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Imphal East), along with personnel from Irilbung Police Station and forensic experts, visited the crime scene and began an investigation. Thambou’s body has been sent to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) mortuary for post-mortem examination.
Police have registered a case and launched a comprehensive probe to establish the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrators.