Government Intensifies Search for Missing Meitei Youth in Manipur: Governor Bhalla

Synopsis

Manipur's Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla announced that the government is actively working to locate the missing youth Luwangthem Mukhesh, who disappeared on March 16. The ongoing search has garnered support from the Joint Action Committee and Mukhesh's family, emphasizing the urgency of his safe return.

Key Takeaways

Governor Bhalla assures all efforts to trace Mukhesh.
Search operations are ongoing for six days.
Joint Action Committee is demanding immediate action.
Mukhesh was last seen in Bishnupur district.
Over 30 Meitei youths are reported missing since ethnic violence.

Imphal, March 21 (NationPress) Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla stated on Friday that the government is diligently working to locate the missing youth Luwangthem Mukhesh and reunite him with his family. Extensive searches by the Manipur police and other security forces have been ongoing for the sixth day to find the 20-year-old Meitei youth, who was reported missing on March 16.

Members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), who have been protesting since Mukhesh's disappearance and demanding his safe return, met with the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Friday evening.

The JAC members and Mukhesh's parents urged the Governor to take immediate action to locate him and ensure his safe return. “Governor assured the JAC members and Mukhesh's family that the government is committed to tracing him as soon as possible and reuniting him with his family,” reported a Raj Bhavan official.

Mukhesh's mother previously made a heartfelt plea to the authorities to guarantee her son's safety. A police officer indicated that state police, along with the Assam Rifles and other Central forces, continued their search operations both jointly and individually in Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, and Kangpokpi districts to recover Mukhesh, who resides in the Keishampat Lelmajam Leikal area of Imphal West.

Tracker dogs have been deployed to assist in locating the missing youth, while CCTV footage shows his vehicle was last spotted in Bishnupur district near Chinikon, close to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district. Mukhesh was reported missing after driving towards the tribal-dominated district of Churachandpur on the afternoon of March 16. His family filed a missing person report at the Imphal Police Station.

Official reports indicate that over 30 individuals from the Meitei community have gone missing since the outbreak of ethnic violence in the state 22 months ago.

In a related note, Anurag Garg, Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), along with Monika Ashish Batra, Deputy Director General (North Eastern Region), and Prakash Ranjan Mishra, Additional Director and Zonal Director, also visited the Governor at Raj Bhavan. The officials provided a detailed briefing on various initiatives undertaken by the NCB to combat illicit drug trafficking in the region.