Three Catholic priests were shot near Imphal last night, sending shockwaves through the Christian community. The killing of the priests at the Don Bosco Celestian Noviciate, located on the Nagarian hills about 30 km east of the Manipur capital, is believed to be part of the sustained militant campaign against the community. Last night's killings took the number of priests murdered in the state in recent times to six. Eight Catholic schools in Imphal have also been closed down after failing to meet the extortion demands of a militant group. Police said three gunmen came to the training school at 8 last night and demanded a huge sum of money. Sources said the priests gave the gunmen Rs 35,000 but they were not satisfied and opened fire on them. The 30 students inside the building were warned by the intruders not to venture outside. After an hour of negotiation, the students first heard the sound of a single shot and then the staccato sound of automatic weapons. Father Raphael Paliakhara, 45, and Father Andreas Kindo, 33, were shot dead first. Brother Shinu Joseph Valliparampil, 23, the assistant who ran out to help his superiors, was also not spared. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India condemned the killings and appealed to the Prime Minister, home minister and Manipur chief minister to 'come to the rescue of Christians' so that they could 'carry on their work of love and service to humanity'.