At least three rounds of live ammunition were reportedly fired by unidentified miscreants at a betel leaf (locally known as kwa) shop located at the New Market, Heirok-Wangjing crossing, under the jurisdiction of Thoubal Police Station in Manipur.
According to police sources, the incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. The targeted shop is owned by Ningthoujam Bijenkumar alias Roben, 45, son of the late Angang of Heirok Part III, Tourangbam Leikai. The owner is a retired Army personnel.
Bijenkumar suspects that the shooting may be linked to extortion attempts. He revealed that a Valley-Based Insurgent Group (VBIG) had previously demanded a sum of ₹5 lakh from him, which he refused to pay.
Following the incident, a team from Thoubal Police Station conducted an inspection of the shop, and a case has been registered for further investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of the case and concerns for the owner’s safety, the police have declined to release further details at this stage.
It is worth noting that betel leaves (kwa) are widely consumed across the state and form a significant part of the local economy.
Editorial Note: The news is edited from a syndicate feed.
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