Massive Search Operations Launched In Manipur To Trace 2 Missing Teens, 3 Detained

A massive search operation has been launched in Manipur to trace two teenagers who have been reported missing since Sunday morning.

Guwahati: Security forces in the trouble-torn northeastern state of Manipur have launched massive search operations to trace the two missing teenage boys who have been missing since Sunday (November 5) morning. The two boys, identified as Maibam Avinash (16) and Ningthoujam Anthony (19), reportedly went to the Sekmai area in the Imphal West district to attend a function on Sunday at around 9.10 a.m. on a motorcycle but did not return. 

Their mobile phones were, however, recovered in the state’s Senapati district, around 60 kilometres from Imphal.

The Manipur police late Monday night said that three individuals were detained from Kangpokpi district in connection with the incident.

“In connection with the missing report of 02 (two) boys on 05.11.2023, joint security forces launched a search operation in Khengjang and K Lhangnom villages of Kangpokpi district. In the said operation, 03 (three) individuals have been detained for further interrogation and verification in connection with the incident. Search operation continues, the police said in a post on X.

Tension prevailed in the valley districts of Imphal West and Imphal East over the incident with people, particularly with students taking to the streets demanding the safe return of the duo.

Meanwhile, the security forces while carrying out search operations in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Imphal East, Thoubal, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts on Monday recovered a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives.

A submachine gun (SMG), 63 live rounds of bullets, a 36 hand grenade with ring, 19 magazines of SMG and INSAS Light Machine Gun (LMG), six anti-riot shells, a tube launcher, four INSAS rifle gas cylinder caps, seven 7.62 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) ammunition charger clips and three empty ammunition carrier boxes were recovered from the Khundrakpam Mayai Leikai area under the jurisdiction of the Heingang police station in Imphal East district.

On the other hand, the security forces recovered seven kilograms of explosive iron pellets, five grams of gunpowder, six Galvanized Iron (GI) pipes, a bulletproof jacket, two pumpi (a locally made mortar) bomb shells and three two-wheelers from T. Yangnom village under the jurisdiction of the Moreh police station in Tengnoupal district.

The security forces have erected a total of 133 ‘nakas’ and checkpoints in different locations of the state, both in the hill and the valley districts. The state police have also detained as many as 1,616 persons in connection with violation of law in different districts of the state.