Manipur police recover bodies of two missing Kuki youths after four-day search

Imphal: The bodies of two Kuki youths who went missing from Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on October 28 were recovered on Sunday after a four-day search involving state police and central security forces, officials said.

The deceased were identified as Tinginlun Chongloi, 21, and Paoginlal Hangshing, 20, both from Taphou Kuki village. Joint teams of the Manipur Police, CRPF, CoBRA, Rapid Action Force and Assam Rifles had launched multiple search operations after the two were reported missing.

During an extensive search on Sunday in the area east of the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) along SP Road, the teams found the two bodies. Police said legal formalities and other required procedures were underway.

Security forces will continue combing operations in the area to identify and apprehend those responsible for the incident, officials said.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) had called a 48-hour shutdown in Kangpokpi district to protest the reported abduction. The protest, which began at 5 p.m. on Thursday, disrupted vehicular movement along NH-2 until Saturday evening, while shops, markets and other establishments remained closed.

COTU alleged that the two youths were abducted by “Naga militants.” Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen had earlier condemned the alleged abduction and urged authorities to make every effort to trace and rescue the missing men.

(Inputs from IANS)