Imphal, July 01: Strongly contending that one of the three persons shot dead by Imphal East and Imphal West commandos and troops of 32 Assam Rifles at Langol Games Village this afternoon was an innocent civilian, local people have started staging protest sitting at Thangmeiband Khomdram Selungba Leikai.

Khundrakpam Iboyaima (35) of Thangmeiband KHbmdram Selungba Leikai, shot dead in the reported encounter, was a married man having two children.

He used to do small contract works.

According to Sana, wife of the deceased, Iboyaima left home at about 5.30 am with around Rs 3.50 lakhs saying that he would go to his contract work sites at Senapati and Saikul after procuring materials needed for the contract works.

Reiterating that her husband was not related to any UG outfit but was an innocent civilian, Sana conveyed there was no response when she dialled her husband's mobile phone number at about 3 pm even though the phone rang.

In connection with the killing, a public meeting will be held tomorrow during which the future course of action will be decided, disclosed a local Meira Paibi.