Imphal: Residents of Takhel Yongdon in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Tuesday staged a sit-in protest following an abortive attempt on the life of a former insurgent cadre by two gunmen.
The protest was held at the Takhel Yongdon Community Hall under Lamlai police station, where residents raised slogans and displayed placards condemning the attack for creating fear and panic in the locality.
According to officials, the assailants identified themselves as cadres of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party–Military Council (Progressive) [KCP-MC (Progressive)].
They allegedly attempted to kill Saikhom Khogen, a former underground cadre. The incident occurred on December 26, when the two armed men accosted Khogen at his residence in Takhel Yongdon.
Following a heated argument, one of the assailants pulled out a pistol and opened fire, but the bullet missed its target.
Khogen managed to flee the spot, while local residents rushed in and overpowered the attackers. The assailants, along with a pistol and two live rounds of ammunition, were later handed over to the concerned police station.
Police confirmed that Khogen is a surrendered militant who was previously associated with an underground outfit.
Meanwhile, Khogen’s wife, who led the sit-in protest, appealed to the armed men and their outfit to clarify why her husband was being targeted.
She said she feared for the safety of her family and did not want to be left alone with her two children in the event of her husband’s death.
In a dramatic turn of events, the assailants who attempted to shoot Khogen ultimately ended up in police custody after being overpowered by alert local residents.