Imphal: A man who snatched a carbine from a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) man on guard duty at the Imphal General Post Office (GPO) to hold three women employees hostage on September 4 was later shot dead by police commandos.

Official sources said the man identified as Md Kayamudin entered the GPO from the back entrance before snatching the carbine of a CRPF guard and sprinting upstairs where he took three women hostage.

Moments later the CRPF entered the ground floor and began firing at Kayamuddin on the floor above, with the man also retaliating.

Bursts of heavy gunfire were traded between the CRPF and Kayamuddin for an hour from 2:45 pm, the sources said.

The gunshots caused panic among employees of the GPO and nearby offices, as traffic in the area came to a standstill and a search operation was launched.

Later, police commandos attached to the Imphal West District superintendent of police office launched an operation in which Kayamudin was killed, the sources said.

Details of the operation were not available.

PTI