Imphal: A father and son who were kidnapped by unidentified militants two weeks ago were shot dead and their bodies found in interior Thoubal district of Manipur, police said on Friday.
Sources said the two were shot dead this morning and their bodies had been recovered from Lamboi Khul village. The bodies have been sent to Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital here for post mortem. Police said S Ibomcha ((58), a chowkidar with the water supply wing of public health engineering department (PHED)) and his son S Gitchandra (18), were abducted at gun point from Irilbung water supply project in Imphal East district on the night of December 7.
The militants who had kidnapped them had demanded a huge sum from the department for their release, sources said adding that local residents had protested against their arrest and demanded their immediate release.
Sources said PHED employees association had launched a strike demanding release of the kidnapped.
"How can a chowkidar pay a huge sum of rupees demanded by militants from the department," a spokesman of the Employees` Association said adding "why were the militants targetting such innocent civilians who were not regular employees in the department but engaged as casual workers?" Official sources said police forces were alterted to trace the kidnapped persons but their bodies were found at Lamboi Khul village under Yairipok police station in Thoubal istrict.
Many civil society groups strongly condemned tyhe killing. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the crime. PTI