Imphal, May 6: The residents of Uripok locality in Manipur's Imphal West district today protested against the alleged killing of Konjengbam David Meitei, 35, an alcoholic who had been admitted to New Light De-Addiction Centre at Kharam Thadoi in Senapati district a month ago.

David's wife, Konjengbam Ongbi Kusum, a resident of Uripok Haorongbam Leikai, said she had called the rehabilitation centre around 5am yesterday but was told that her husband had run away from the centre along with another inmate.

Later in the day, she received a call from the centre asking her to visit Lamshang police station, located between Uripok and Kharam Thadoi locality.

When she reached the police station around 2pm she was told that her husband had died and that his body would be taken to RIMS. She came to know that the centre had informed the police that morning about her husband's death and that his body had been found about 200m from the centre. The exact time of David's death is, however, uncertain.

"The police were informed before the family about David's death and this has created more suspicion over his death," a neighbour of the deceased told reporters today.

"My husband was murdered, there were bruise marks on his body. I want justice," Kusum, who saw her husband's body at RIMS mortuary here, alleged. "He was admitted to the rehabilitation centre to change his life. Instead, he was killed," she added.

Kusum and other protesters, under the banner of Joint Action Committee Against the Brutal Killing of David, staged a sit-in in front of RIMS complex here. They demanded an inquiry into his death and that the culprit be booked. The committee has decided not to receive the body till the cause for his death is known and the rehabilitation centre is taken to task.

David is survived by his wife and two sons, aged nine and five. Kusum earns a living by selling local snacks at her residence. Shops around the protest area remained closed and pharmacies worked with shutters pulled half down to show solidarity with the protesters.

The family has filed a case at Imphal West police station and Lamphel police station, both in Uripok. The case has been referred to Saprameina police station, which covers Kharam Thadoi, a protester said.