Imphal, July 25 2009: A village chief who was abducted from his house on ransom demand by unidentified armed persons has been found shot dead.

According to police report, 45-year old Khamlen Haokip s/o Jamkholun, who was the Chief of Dongshum village under Saikul Police Station in Senapati district had been reportedly abducted by five unidentified armed persons from his house on the night of July 22 .

At the time of abducting the village chief, his wife had given Rs 30,000 to the armed abductors.

But the armed abductors had not only taken the money but also took Khamlen along with them.

On the following day, the family members reported the matter to the police stations of Saikul, Litan and Lamlai.

However, the bullet riddled body of Khamlen was recovered from the cemetery of Pashong village under Litan Police Station of Ukhrul district at around 9.30 am yesterday.

Apart from bullet marks on his heads, there were wounds of brutal torture all over his body.

According to family members who came to retrieved the body at the mortuary of RIMS today, the armed abductors had demanded Rs 1 lakh.

As the armed abductors had taken Rs 30000 on the day of the abduction, they telephoned to the family members asking them to come along with the remaining amount at Lamphel Super Market.

As the family members do not have any money, they have gone to Lamphel on July 23 to request the armed abductors to release the village chief.

The family members met three persons there.

But instead of listening to their request, the armed abductors send them away after taking Rs 100 from their possession.

The body was Khamlen was reportedly brought to his house by AR personnel yesterday and same was handed over to the family members today after post-mortem at RIMS.

Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants set aflame a bulldozer of PWD along with a private excavator at Koide under Mao Police Station of Senapati District last night.

Information received by the press said that the bulldozer and the excavator were being used in connection with ongoing road repairing work from Besho to Liyai.

Both of machineries suffered extensive damage in the fire which was set at around 11.30 pm yesterday at Koide which is located 5 kms to the east of Maram.

KS Ngaila who is taking up the contract of the road repairing work has filed a complaint with the police in connection with the incident.