Imphal: Former Manipur police chief L Jugeswar Singh was today (Apr 24, 2004) shot dead by militants at his house in Imphal West district, official sources said.

The former director general of police, who had been actively campaigning for the Bharatiya janata Party (BJP) candidate in Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, was called out from his house at Kwakeithel by three to four gunmen on some pretext and was shot dead from point blank range, they said.

Singh, who received over five bullets, died on the spot, the sources said.

Separatist Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) outfit had earlier issued a threat that it would kill anyone campaigning for Chaoba Sigh, BJP candidate from Inner Manipur and a relative of the former DGP.

Chaoba Singh was described by the KYKL as "an agent of the Centre to destroy the revolutionary movement in Manipur".

KYKL had made an attempt on the life of BJP State vice-president N Tombi Singh, who had a narrow escape two weeks ago.

Jugeswar Singh had retired from the service about three years ago. During his tenure at the helm of the State police, he had introduced several measures to combat insurgents fighting for "an independent Manipur".