Imphal, November 03: In an apparent case of political rivalry taking an ugly turn, an activist of the Nationalist Congress Party, Manipur Pradesh succumbed to grievous bullet wounds after he was targeted by unidentified persons at Mayang Imphal area this morning.

The proscribed PULF has claimed responsibility for the killing and a spokesman of the outfit explained that the political activist was killed because he was an informer and was working against the outfit.

The killing had no political motive, he claimed.

The victim passed away at around 6.10 am at RIMS Hospital where he was rushed by locals in critical condition.

The deceased identified as one Yusuf Ali alias Amutombi (55) of Mayang Imphal Bengoon was reportedly riding a bicycle enroute to the residence of his uncle Abdul Salam a prospective NCP candidate for the forthcoming state assembly elections when two motor cycle borne youths waylaid him and opened fire at point blank range at around 5 am.

Yusuf was hit by two bullets on the chest and one on the right hand.

According to eyewitness accounts, the locals chased the motorcycle borne assailants who fled towards Bengoon Leirak Achouba but the duo had a miraculous escape as they managed to regain composure and continue running despite hitting a speed-breaker and crashing to the roadside.

Even though the assailants managed to escape, police commandos who arrived at the scene recovered a magazine of .32 calibre with three rounds, a shirt and the motorcycle which was partially damaged by the infuriated locals.

Workers of Abdul Salam and the victim's family expressed suspicion that the crime might be a fallout of political rivalry.

They contended that supporters of a Bahujan Samaj Party's would-be candidate in the said polls slated for early part of next year had a row with them in September.

The victim party also conveyed that soon after today's incident a combined team of state and central security forces rushed to the spot and launched operation leading to recovery of the motorcycle (Pulsar) used by the assailants and some empty cases from the area.

When contacted, state unit NCP president and former chief minister Radhabinod Koijam said if the fatal incident is connected to political matter, then it is most unfortunate and should be condemned by one and all while insisting that the government should immediately take action to book the culprits.

Ironically, office building of state unit NCP was formally inaugurated at Thangmeiband this morning.

Post mortem examination was conducted on the mortal remains of Amutombi at RIMS morgue.

Imphal west superintendent of police Clay Khongsai said it would be premature to comment whether or not the case was related to political rivalry.

The police officer, however, disclosed that the deceased was under threat from an outfit.

An FIR case has been registered on the matter and investigation is on to find out veracity of the crime, the SP said adding that additional forces including police commandos have been sent to the area as pre-emptive measure to avert further violence.

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