Manipur road rage: SBI manager sent to 15 days’ judicial custody

Imphal: The manager of a State Bank of India (SBI) branch in Imphal West district of Manipur has been sent to judicial custody for 15 days for allegedly killing a 22-year-old youth with his licensed gun in an apparent case of road rage on December 25.

The accused, identified as Chabungbam Budhachandra, was the manager of Leimakhong branch of SBI. The victim, who has been identified as Salam Prashanta, hailed from the Changangei Uchekon area. He was accompanied by his friends traveling in two separate cars to attend a music concert at Sekmai. When the youngsters reached the Naoremthong bridge around 10.20 pm on December 25, Prashanta got into an argument with the accused about overtaking each other’s vehicle.

As the argument escalated, Budhachandra sped ahead of the two cars, stopped his car, stepped out and pointed his gun at Prashanta. After shooting him dead, he fled from the spot, said an eyewitness.

Following the incident, the family of the deceased filed a complaint. Acting on the complaint, the police arrested the bank manager and recovered a .32 mm pistol and 10 live rounds. The police suspect that the same weapon was used in the killing.

The investigating officer produced the accused before the judicial magistrate and requested judicial custody of 15 days for further investigation.

On the day of hearing, family members along with other women crowded outside the court room and also tried to attack the bank official, said the police.

Earlier on December 27, a group of citizens formed People’s Action Committee of Prakash and submitted a memorandum to chief minister N Biren Singh demanding exemplary punishment to the accused.