New Delhi: Three out of the four villagers from Akasoi in Manipur's Bishnupur district, who had reportedly gone missing after they went to collect firewood on Wednesday, were found dead in Churachandpur on Thursday, police said.
Taking to X, the Manipur Police wrote, "On 11.01.2024, security forces recovered 03 (three) dead bodies of the 04 (four) persons who reportedly went missing at Haotak Mapalok Ching, Bishnupur District on 10.01.2024."
The state police said the security forces are carrying out search operation to trace the fourth missing person identified as Ahanthem Dara (56). A combing operation has been launched in the area to flush out the armed miscreants from the area, police added.
"Security forces are carrying out hectic efforts to search for the other missing person and to flush out armed miscreants from the area," the Manipur police added in their post on X.
The bodies of Oinam Romen (45), Thoudam Ibomcha (53) and his son Thoudam Anand (27), were recovered by the security forces from the Wangoo Sabal Maning Ching Meichakpo foothills. The bodies of those killed reportedly bore bullet injuries and the tools for cutting firewood and the bicycles of the deceased have been recovered from the spot of the incident, police added.
The police later sent the bodies to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in state capital Imphal for post-mortem.
"We belong to a very poor family and earn our living by selling firewood and some farming. Until and unless the government takes action against the perpetrators, I will not claim my husband’s body for performing the last rites,” wife of deceased Oinam Romen Meitei, Pramodini Devi, told the media.
"My father went to collect firewood on Wednesday morning. Though the forest area is guarded by the security forces, three persons were killed. I request the government to find my father at the earliest," son of Ananthem Dara said.