Imphal, February 02 2009: The youth who was found shot dead at Sangaithel Turel Wangma (towards Longa Koireng), Laishram Ibocha alias Saratchandra (28) of Mayang Langjing Tamang Sorok Mapal has been identified as a former National Kabbadi player.

Talking to reporters today, family members said that Ibocha along with two of his friends, Sorokhaibam Babungou and Chingakham Gojendro were whisked away by unidentified persons on January 31 in an auto rickshaw.

Quoting the two friends who were earlier released by the unidentified persons, the family members said that they were taken to Sanjenbam Lamkhai in Lamshang.

From there they were taken to an unknown place in a Gypsy and later separated.

The unidentified persons asked the two friends to divulge where Ibocha had kept his gun and also questioned them if they knew that he (Ibocha) was involved in extortion.

All this while they were beaten, said the family members, recounting the story narrated by the two.

The unidentified persons posed themselves as police commandos and again as cadres of underground organisations.

People of Phayeng, Leitong and Maklang launched a massive man hunt for Ibocha yesterday morning, said the family members.

On receiving information that police had recovered a body at Sangaithel, they rushed to RIMS morgue and found the body of Ibocha there.

The deceased youth was with the PLA in 1991-92 but has retired and was leading a civilian life, they maintained.

The family members have appealed to all concerned to clarify why Ibocha was killed.