Manipur: Inmate dies by suicide at relief camp in Bishnupur

Imphal: A 36-year-old inmate allegedly died by suicide in a relief camp in Manipur's Bishnupur district on Saturday night, police said on Sunday.

The deceased, Angom Premkumar, a resident of Tuibong in Churachandpur district, was found hanging from the ceiling fan inside a prefabricated house at Kwakta Sericulture Farm, under Phoubakchao Ithai Police Station, around 10 PM on Saturday.

Premkumar had been staying in the relief camp, set up by the Manipur government following the ethane violence began in May 3, 2023.

The ongoing violence between the Kuki and Meitei communities began in Churachandpur district, forcing Premkumar and his family to flee their home and seek refuge in the relief camp in Bishnupur district. A Meitei by birth, Premkumar worked as a daily wage earner.

Upon receiving the information, a team from the Phoubakchao Ithai Police Station rushed to the scene. The police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code for initial investigation. No suicide note was found at the scene, according to police.

Premkumar is the first inmate to commit suicide amid the ongoing communal violence, which has rendered over 60,000 people homeless across the state.