Three out of four missing Manipur villagers found killed

The mortal remains of the trio bore bullet and cut wounds, even as the villagers said that the three might have been killed mercilessly after being captured by suspected Kuki militants.

Asem Bhakta Singh, January 12, 2024, Imphal : Fresh violence erupted in strife-torn Manipur after 3 out of the 4 persons of the Akasoi area in Bishnupur district bordering Churachandpur who went missing after they had gone to collect firewood from a nearby hill on Wednesday, were found killed on Thursday.

Angry villagers of the area, under Kumbi police station, expressed dissatisfaction over what they termed as the government’s failure to safeguard them.

Lifeless bodies of Oinam Romen Meitie (45), Thoudam Ibomcha Meitei (53) and his son Thoudam Anand Meitei (27) were recovered by a joint team of the army and state police from Wangoo Sabal Maning Ching Meichakpo Hills foothills. They all belonged to Wangoo Terakhong Akasoi Ward No 7.

Search operation by the combined security team to find the fourth person, Ahanthem Dara (56) believed to have been killed is underway, police sources said.

The mortal remains of the trio bore bullet and cut wounds, even as the villagers said that the three might have been killed mercilessly after being captured by suspected Kuki militants.

Some knives meant for cutting firewoods and bicycles belonging to the deceased trio were recovered from the spot by the police who registered a case on the incident.

The cops retrieved the bodies and deposited them at the mortuary of the Centre-run Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal for autopsy.

Pramodini Devi , wife of deceased Romen’s wife, told reporters that they belong to poor family and eke out a living by engaging daily manual like cutting fire wood and other small scale farming.

She expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of the government to aid and protect them living in the vulnerable village since the ethnic strife unfolded on May 3 last year.

“Until and unless the government takes exemplary action against the culprits, I will not claim my husband’s body for performing the last rites,” she said.

Ahanthem Shanta, son of missing Dara said that his father moved out to collect firewood after working for some time at his homestead on Wednesday morning.

“As the forest area is guarded by Mahar regiment personnel, it is quite strange how the three were killed, “ Shanta said, while requesting the government to find his missing father at the earliest.