Tragic incident, the body of a missing person, Ahanthem Dara (55), who had gone to collect firewood with three others on January 10 in the bordering areas of Manipur’s Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts, was discovered on Saturday. Local sources suggest that unidentified armed individuals may be responsible for the killing, although the official cause remains unknown at the time of reporting.
The police team from Kumbi police station recovered the body from Haotak Mapalok Chakpi Ching, situated in the adjoining area of Bishnupur and Churachandpur, and transferred it to a government hospital’s mortuary in Imphal on the same day. The other three individuals, Th Ibomcha (51), his son Anand (20), and Oinam Romen (38), were found dead during a search on the following day.
A social activist from Kumbi, Jaya Khangembam, has called for the removal of central forces deployed in the Kumbi-Haotak area, asserting that their presence does not ensure the safety of the local population. She advocates for the deployment of state forces for the security of the villagers.
The state police, in a press release, mentioned the recovery of three bodies on January 11 and ongoing efforts to locate the fourth missing person while conducting operations to eliminate armed miscreants from the area. It is essential to note that Manipur has been grappling with ethnic conflicts, resulting in significant casualties and displacement in recent times.
