Synopsis
Tensions escalate in Manipur as a 20-year-old Meitei youth goes missing, prompting police search operations and community unrest in Imphal West and Imphal East districts. The police are actively investigating, with multiple reports of similar disappearances since ethnic violence erupted in the region.Key Takeaways
- Missing Youth: A 20-year-old Meitei youth is unaccounted for.
- Community Tension: His disappearance has escalated tensions in Imphal districts.
- Police Investigation: Search operations are in full swing to locate him.
- Increasing Disappearances: Over 30 Meitei youths have gone missing amid ethnic violence.
- Militant Arrests: Police have detained militants linked to armed groups.
Imphal, March 17 (NationPress) A 20-year-old individual from the Meitei community has mysteriously vanished from Manipur’s Imphal, causing significant unrest in both Imphal West and Imphal East districts, as confirmed by officials on Monday night.
A police spokesperson revealed that one Luwangthem Mukesh (20), a resident of the Keishampat Lelmajam Leikal area in Imphal West, was last seen driving a vehicle towards the tribal-heavy district of Churachandpur on Sunday afternoon. A report regarding his disappearance was filed on Sunday at the Imphal Police Station.
“Upon receiving the report, an inquiry was launched without delay. Police and security forces are making extensive efforts to locate Mukesh. Large-scale search operations are underway in all potential areas,” the official communicated to the media.
According to CCTV footage, his vehicle was last spotted in Bishnupur district near Chinikon, adjacent to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district.
In related developments, Thounaojam Maheswar, General Secretary of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) Manipur unit, stated that he met with Director General of Police Rajiv Singh and urged him to intensify efforts to locate Mukesh.
Police reports indicate that his mobile device was located near the Kuki-Zo tribal inhabited area of Jouzangtek in the hilly Kangpokpi district, although the precise location remains undetermined.
Official sources mention that over 30 youths from the Meitei community have reportedly gone missing since the onset of ethnic violence in the state 22 months ago.
Simultaneously, during ongoing search efforts, the Manipur Police apprehended four militants from various districts and seized a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition. The militants are affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) groups. Adequate security measures have been implemented to ensure the movement of goods-laden vehicles, predominantly trucks carrying essential items, food grains, medicines, and domestic products along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2).
