Source: The Sangai Express / S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, October 23 2010:
Three unidentified armed men last night fired at the village chief of M Saheiphai, a tiny hamlet along the Sugnu Road about 23 km east from here over a suspected land feud, killing him at the spot.
Fifty-eight-year-old Paokhothang, father of five, was shot with a pistol from behind by the armed men in his neighbourhood at around 5.30 pm, sources said.
His wife, Lethoi told The Sangai Express that the three assailants were armed with clubs, beside the pistol which she claimed had misfired for two consecutive times.
'They fired him once from behind, after that they reloaded the pistol twice, but both of them misfired,' she said.
But that one bullet still turned fatal, claiming the chief's life.
As the village women folk screamed on seeing their chief being attacked, the three assailants made a hasty retreat by foot, she added.
When enquired, she refused to name any suspect over the killing.
Nevertheless, she confided that as a village chief they have had land disputes with some adjoining villages which occasionally turned violent.
The body of the deceased chief was handed over to the family members after an autopsy.
The local police have registered a case of homicide under section 302/34 IPC and 25(1-C)A .
Acts, over the killing.
Killing flayed: An emergency meeting of the Kuki Chiefs' Association (KCA), Chandel district held at the residence of its vice president TT Haokip today has strongly condemned the killing of chief of Saheiphai village Paokhothang Haokip s/o late Jamkhokhai Haokip.
Paokhothang Haokip was shot dead at point black range while having Pan from a shop near his house late evening yesterday.
Condemning the killing without giving any warning, the KCA also appealed to the organisation or individual concerned involved in the killing to come up with an explanation in this regard.