Imphal, Nov. 2: A non-Manipuri trader was shot dead at Takyel Khongbal in Imphal West district today while police foiled an attempt to assassinate the child development project officer of Bishnupur.

Unidentified persons shot dead Mohammad Kalam Seth, 35, a scrap dealer from Samchet village in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, at Takyel Khongbal, a small locality 7km from here, in Imphal West district, barely two days after another non-Manipuri trader was killed in Thoubal district

Police said a passerby found Seth at 8.15am, bleeding profusely as he lay by the wayside close to Takyel Khongbal. The area is close to Government Blind School and Sports Authority of India’s Northeast regional centre office.

The passerby took Seth to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences where he died. Seth had been shot thrice in the chest and neck. Police later found two empty cases of AK assault rifles and the cycle-cart used by Seth to carry his scrap at the site.

Lamphel police have registered a case but they did not say whether any militant group was involved. Seth was identified by some of his friends who stayed with him at the rented quarters at Pandon Kabui village, around 8km from where he was shot.

On Saturday, Jai Shankar Prasad, a meat-seller from Belia in Uttar Pradesh, was shot dead in Thoubal.

In an unrelated incident, security forces foiled an assassination bid on child development project officer, Bishnupur, N. Modhubala Devi, after one of the alleged hired shooters was picked up from Pishumtong in Imphal West on Saturday evening.

Police said the alleged hired shooter was identified as L. Birjit Singh, 22. They recovered a Mauser 9mm pistol with six live rounds from him.

An accomplice of his escaped the dragnet of the combined force of 39th Assam Rifles and Imphal West police, who were on duty at Pishumthongon that day.

The police said Birjit Singh told interrogators that he had been hired by a woman, Promila Devi, who promised him Rs 20,000 or a computer for the job.

While Promila Devi and Rita Devi, who provided the pistol, are at large, the police have picked up two women, Th. Bijeta Devi and Bimola Devi.

Protest: Residents of Ishikha Mayai Leikai have formed a joint action committee to demand justice for Oinam Anand and Oinam Pakpak who were killed in an alleged encounter with troops of 28 Assam Rifles at Andro Sanapat on Saturday night.

Ishikha villagers claimed that the duo, who were drivers by profession, were innocent and had been picked up from their houses before being killed during the alleged encounter. Local Congress MLA Th. Lokeshor Singh pacified the villagers and assured them that he would take up the matter with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh.