Five non-Manipuri labourers were shot dead by unidentified militants in Bishenpur district of Manipur, officials said on Friday.

The victims, hailing from Assam and Tripura, were dragged out of their rented house at Ningthoukhong area, about 35 km south of Imphal late on Thursday night and gunned down at point blank range by the militants.

The motive behind the killing is not yet known, the officials said.

The bodies were sent to the Regional Medical and Science Hospital in Imphal for autopsy.