Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 28:
Unidentified gunmen numbering about six shot dead the father-in-law of world boxing champion MC Mary Kom in between Samulamlan and Turinphaijan villages last evening.
Mary Kom's father-in-law, who was also the village chief of Samulamlan is identified as Rekhupathang Kom (67). Rekhupathang's son K Onlar is Mary Kom's husband and the husband-wife duo stays at Langol Games Village.
According to informed sources, Rekhupathang was beating the winter chill with a meiphu (charcoal/wood burner) inside the house after dinner when at around 6.30 pm a Kom dialect speaking youth showed up and asked the village chief to show Chinglangmei village road while about 4/5 of the youth's accomplices loitered at near the entrance gate.
Moments after Rekhupathang moved out of the house with the meiphu in hand, a gunshot was heard in the vicinity and on enquiry the villagers found the victim lying motionless on the roadside between Samulamlan and the adjacent Turingphaijan village, the source detailed.
The villagers also witnessed a note of Manipur Komrem Revolutionary Front near the body, it added.
Kumbi police station has registered a case on the matter and the body handed over to family members after post mortem at RIMS morgue today.
Rekhupathang suffered a fatal bullet wound on the right cheek area that penetrated and smashed the nose portion.
Condemning the slaying of three time world women boxing champion's father-in-law, KomRem Union president Leipakngam Karong opined that the attack was carried out by some individuals with vested interest under the name of the little known Kom outfit (MKRF).
Talking to some reporters, Leibakngam further contended that the killing might be either connected to a land dispute simmering in Sagang area or Rekhupathang preventing his daughter-in-law from attending a recent felicitation programme.