Imphal, Dec. 28: Unidentified gunmen shot dead 67-year-old K. Rekhupthang Kom, father-in-law of Manipur’s boxing queen M.C. Marykom, at Samulamlan village in the Sagang area of Churachandpur district last night.

Police said Rekhupthang, who was the village chief, was called out of his house by an unknown person at 6.30 pm. His body was later recovered from a site one km from his residence. The police found a piece of paper at the scene of the crime saying the “MKRF” had killed him. The MKRF could allude to the Manipur Komrem Revolutionary Front.

However, Rekhupthang’s family and tribal leaders said they did not believe that it was the organisation’s handiwork. “We don’t think that this organisation exists. Someone is using its name to confuse the police and the people,” said Leipakngam Karong, president of the Komrem Union. The union, which is the apex body of the tribal community, has condemned the killing.

“My father was sitting by the fireside when a man came into the house and requested him to show the way to a nearby village. Father accompanied him and some other persons, who were waiting near the gate, on their way. Later he was found dead,” said Onler Kom, son of the deceased and Marykom’s husband.

The attack took place a few hours after Marykom and Onler left for their residence in Imphal after celebrating Christmas with the family.

“My father was a very nice person, who never harmed anyone,” Onler added. The deceased had recently taken part in a volleyball match organised by the village.

Terming the killing as “pre-planned”, the Komrem Union president demanded that the government bring the culprits to book.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh expressed his condolences to Marykom over the phone this morning.

“The chief minister promised us that he would make all possible efforts to arrest the culprits and punish them,” said Onler.