Imphal, December 26 2008: A Rifleman of the 4th IRB was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in front of his own wife and two sons at Loushangkhong Awang Leikai under Lamlai Police Station of Imphal East district at around 5.30 pm yesterday.

In protest against the killing, infuriated local people today blocked Imphal-Ukhrul road for some time disrupting vehicular traffic along the said route.

The slain IRB personnel has been identified as Shijagurumayum Surjit Sharma alias Sharma (30) s/o late Bira of Sekta Makha Leikai.

According to Shijagurumayum Ongbi Chanusana Devi (28), wife of the slain IRB personnel before whose eyes the incident took place, they were returning home from Napetpalli in a Maruti car (MN-04/7022) when three unidentified armed persons stopped the car at Pungdongbam Lam-khai and requested for lift till Sekta Awang Leikai.

After getting into the car, the arm-ed persons told her husba- nd to switch off the light inside the car and roll up the windows.

Upon reaching Sekta, the armed persons, told her husband to carry on driving and drop them at Loushangkhong.

On arriving at Loushangkhong, the armed persons again insisted on driving further and crossed a bridge.

At that time, two of the armed persons sitting on either sides got down from the car and the one in the middle pointed his gun on her husband�s head and pulled the trigger.

Newly widowed Chanusana further informed that her husband was not related to any UG groups, though he has under suspension since 2005 over some issues.

On the other hand, in connection with the killing, a public meeting was held at Sekta today and constitut-ed a JAC.

After the meeting, a protest march was taken out from Sekta to Pung-dongbam Bazar along Imphal-Ukhrul Road.

The protestors numbering arou-nd 300 of them also resorted to blocking the road for around one hour.

When the personnel of Imphal East Police arrived to clear the road block, the protestors sad down blocking atleast of the half of the road. Later in the evening, the representatives of the JAC submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The demands highlighted in the memorandum include arrest and punishment of the killers of Surjit as well as provi- ding a suitable Government job to his wife.