Guwahati: Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, has expressed profound anguish over the killing of an innocent civilian, Chunjanglung Panmei of Pongringlong Part-I, Rongmei Naga Village, Kangpokpi district.The Chief Minister has strongly condemned this heinous and cowardly act of violence against an innocent civilian. He maintained that the State police and central paramilitary forces are carrying out operations to nab the perpetrators and bring them to justice under the rule of law.He also assured that all possible support and assistance from the state government will be provided to the bereaved family during this hour of grief.The Chief Minister appealed to all communities to maintain peace and harmony, not fall prey to provocations intended to vitiate the atmosphere and to cooperate with the authorities in maintaining law and order.The Joint Tribes Council, Manipur (JTCM) said Chunjanglung Panmei was killed by militants. The body was recovered on Monday.JTCM stated it mourns the brutal, senseless, and cowardly killing of our innocent brother, Chunjanglung Panmei.JTCM said that Panmei went out at dawn, not to fight, not to threaten anyone, but simply to gather firewood for his family. In return, he was met with bullets. “His only crime was being a Naga on his own ancestral land. We are shattered. We are anguished. And we are outraged beyond measure”.