Three persons from Jharkhand working as labourers in strife-hit Manipur were shot by unidentified miscreants in Imphal West district on Saturday night, resulting in the death of one of them on the spot.

The two injured have been admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. The incident yet again reflects the worrying law and order situation in Imphal valley since the outbreak of the ongoing ethnic violence in the state on May 3 last year.

The incident comes amid plans to withdraw “some” central forces from the state for “some time” for election duty. The forces will be redeployed after the poll process is over. The two-phase Lok Sabha polls in Manipur ended on April 26.

Reports from Imphal said the trio were shot near the Nambul river under Lamphel police station in Imphal West district around 7.40 pm, leaving Shree Ram Hansda, 41, from the Goddha district of Jharkhand dead on the spot. The injured — Bittu Murmu, 22, and Mitalal Soren, 50, — were rushed to RIMS.

The trio hailing from Jharkhand worked as labourers for Keystone Infra Pvt. Limited, a company involved in construction and real estate. Police have started an investigation but the motive for the attack is not yet known.

Saturday also saw a fashion designer shot in the leg by a banned militant outfit UNLF (K) in Imphal West for his alleged involvement in the flesh trade.

Imphal valley has seen a spurt in untoward incidents since February despite heavy deployment of central security forces since the outbreak of the ethnic unrest last year.

On April 27, two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in an attack by armed miscreants in Bishnupur district in Meitei-majority Imphal valley. Police have accused Kuki rebels of being behind the attack. This was followed by the abduction of a CRPF jawan from Kangpokpi district on May 8.

On Saturday, four Manipur police personnel were abducted and assaulted by armed miscreants in Imphal East district and subsequently released. Police arrested two members of the Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol.

In February, two Manipur police personnel were abducted in Imphal East. He was subsequently rescued.

On Thursday, Kuldiep Singh, the state’s security adviser, had apprised governor Anusuiya Uikey about withdrawing some forces for the ongoing Lok Sabha election “for some time but are likely to return after the election process is over”.