Concern has grown over the safety of a 71-year-old Kuki man who was allegedly abducted from his farm in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, after his clothes were recovered during a search operation on Sunday, October 4.
Hemjang Haokip, a resident of Khunkho Kuki village near the Leimakhong Army Headquarters, was allegedly taken away from his farm hut by armed men on October 3. The Khunkho Kuki Village Authority has alleged that the abductors were suspected members of the NSCN-IM.
According to the village authority, the armed men allegedly took Haokip from his farm and later destroyed the hut. His whereabouts have remained unknown since the alleged abduction.
During a search operation on Sunday, security personnel reportedly recovered Haokip’s trousers, shirt and sweater from the area. Following the recovery, security forces deployed sniffer dogs to assist in the search for the missing elderly man.
The discovery of his clothing has heightened concerns about his safety and led security agencies to intensify efforts to trace him.
The Khunkho Kuki Village Authority condemned the alleged incident, describing it as a serious attack on an elderly resident and calling for immediate intervention by the state government and security agencies.
The village body has demanded Haokip’s safe and unconditional release within 24 hours, setting October 4 as the deadline.
It also appealed to authorities to identify and take strict action against those allegedly responsible. The village authority warned that failure to secure Haokip’s release could prompt the community to launch democratic protests demanding justice and improved security for local residents.
With the elderly man still missing and his clothes recovered during the search, security forces are under increasing pressure to locate him and ensure his safe return.