Imphal, June 8 (IANS) A 58-year-old man belonging to the Naga community was shot dead inside a forest in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Monday, hours after he had gone there to collect firewood, officials said.

A police official identified the victim as Chunjanglung Panmei, a resident of the area who also served as a village guard.

He was killed inside a forest in the mountainous Kangpokpi district.

According to officials, Panmei had gone into the forest to collect firewood for domestic use when the incident occurred.

After gunshots were heard from the area, villagers from nearby settlements, along with security personnel, rushed to the forest in search of Panmei, the police official said.

His body was later recovered from the forest with multiple bullet injuries, including a gunshot wound to the head.

The village is located near Loibol Khullen, where three civilians, including a woman, were killed by unidentified gunmen on June 5, further heightening concerns over security in the region.

Meanwhile, the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) claimed that Panmei had been serving as a volunteer village guard and described the killing as a “cold-blooded murder”.

In a statement, the NPO alleged that Panmei was not targeted for any wrongdoing but was killed solely because of his Naga identity.

The organisation urged the authorities concerned to immediately initiate a thorough and time-bound investigation into the incident and ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice.

Another local Naga body, the Pongringlong Youth Club, also strongly condemned the killing and demanded swift action against the perpetrators.

Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh expressed profound anguish over the killing of Chunjanglung Panmei and strongly condemned the incident.

In a statement, the Chief Minister termed the killing a heinous and cowardly act of violence against an innocent civilian.

He said that the Manipur Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were conducting operations to trace and apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice under the rule of law.

Singh also assured that all possible support and assistance from the state government would be extended to the bereaved family during this difficult time.

Appealing for calm, the Chief Minister urged all communities to maintain peace and harmony, refrain from falling prey to provocations aimed at disturbing the atmosphere, and cooperate with the authorities in maintaining law and order across the state.

–IANS

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