THOUBAL, July 13: A labourer went on a killing spree holding a machete killing a policeman and a man who had come to visit his wife at a health centre and injured another co-worker, before he was eventually gun downed by the police at the Chakpikarong Community Health Center, Chandel district, last night.
The labourer has been identified as Naorem Hemokut Singh, son of (L) N Santomba of Kakching Paji Leikai.
He was engaged as a labourer for the renovation works of the x-ray and ultrasound rooms at the health centre.
The two dead have been identified as Bs Tonhring Anal son of Bs Angching Anal of Anal Khullen and D Kothang Maring (constable No 0906074) of Heinoukhong village in Chandel district, while the injured have been identified as Pukhrambam Nilakanta Singh, 43, son of (L) P Babudon Singh of Kakching Khunjai Leikai in Thoubal district.
Meanwhile, a mob who had gathered on hearing news of the killing prevented the police from recovering the dead bodies and burnt down a Gypsy of the police.
Around 8pm yesterday, Hemokut started attacking the other labourers without any reason.
Soon enough, the others overpowered him and kept him inside the building of the centre with his hands tied.
According to Nilakanta, a fellow labourer injured during the attack, said after the police arrived, they kept Hemokut confined inside the kitchen, from where he escaped with a machete and started attacking him.
Nilakanta said he ran outside the campus and hid on a timber laden truck.
Unsatisfied with that he attacked a man who had come to visit his wife who was at the centre and a policeman with a machete killing them both on the spot, informed another source.
Meanwhile, according to the police, a team of the police rushed to the health centre soon after getting information about a man attacking others inside the centre.
The police witnessed a dead body lying on the northern gate of the centre on their arrival and even as they kept looking for the assailant using torchlights, the assailant used his machete to strike at a police man killing him on the spot, police sources informed.
In the ensuing melee, other police personnel opened some rounds of fire and captured the assailant. However, he died on the way to the police station due to the bullet injury.
ST Nunghlung Victor, MLA 41 Chandel; sub-divisional officer and sub-deputy collector of Chakpikarong and E Priyokumar, Superintendent of Police Chandel also visited the spot.
Later on, Chandel MLA ST Nunghlung Victor and leaders of various civil organizations also attended a public meeting which was held in connection with the incident at Anal Chiefs Association Hall in Chakpikarong today.
