Teens go missing alter 'foraying' into Kangpokpi district
JAC formed, mobile phones found in Senapati, CM assures rescue Op, three detained
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 06 2023: Two teens, who went to attend a meeting of Arambai Tenggol at Awang Sekmai, went missing on Sunday.

In a CCTV footage, they were last at Kanglatongbi on a motorcycle heading towards Kangpokpi side.

Senapati district police found their mobile phones wrapped in a polythene bag near an oil pump located in Senapati Bazar.

Meanwhile, a late evening update by Manipur Police, which was shared in their official X account, said that joint security forces detained three individuals for interrogation and verification in connection with the incident during a search operation in Khengjang and K Lhangnom villages of Kangpokpi district.

The two teens have been identified as Ningthoujam Anthony alias Temba (16) son of late Sundar of Akham Mayai Leikai and Maibam Abhinash alias Khaba (15) son of Hemanta of Akham Awang Leikai.

A missing report has been filed with Lamsang police station and local people formed a JAC, whose members met the Governor, chief minister and Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, and submitted memorandum appealing for search and rescue operation.

Consequent to the filing of missing report, joint teams of 22 Assam Rifles, and Kangpokpi and Senapati police led by their respective SPs launched search and rescue operation, during which the mobile phones were found.

Chief Minister N Biren has also assured the JAC that the search and rescue operation will continue until the two are found.

Anthony is the third child of late Sunder and Premlata.

He has one brother and two sisters.

He is a school dropout and has been helping his mother in the family's maintenance as a salesman in a shop.

Abhinash is the lone son of Hemanta and Debrani and has a 10-year old sister.

He is a class 10 student at Don Bosco, Langjing.

According to their family members, they went to attend a meeting of Arambai Tenggol at Awang Sekmai on Sunday around 9 am on a Jawa motorcycle bearing registration number MN01AN 3387 .

As they did not returned till late evening, they tried calling them on their mobile phones but there was no response.

Worried about their safety, the family members hied missing report at Lamsang police station on Sunday night.

They also hied another complaint to cybercrime police station, and they were told that their mobile phones were traced in Senapati district at two separate locations.

They continued dialling their mobile phones till 3 am Monday after which the phones were turned off.

Meanwhile, one Yambem Vicky (20) son of Chinglen of Sekmai Parao Leikai, who had shifted from Akham Awang Leikai, and is a friend of Anthony, told the family members that Anthony called him on Sunday at 10.23 am and informed him that he along with Abhinash would be coming to attend the AT meeting.

However, Vicky told them that they never showed up at the meeting venue, the family members said, while urging the government and people of the state to help in finding the two teens.

On the other hand, locals of Akham organised a public meeting on Monday and formed a JAC.

After the meeting, the JAC members along with the family members of the two teens, met Governor, chief minister and Rajya Sabja MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, and submitted memorandum with the appeal to trace the two teens.

Lamsang MLA S Rajen also accompanied them during the meeting with the Governor.

Interacting with the media, MLA Rajen said that though the mobile phones of the two boys have been found in Senapati district, the motorcycle and the two boys are still missing.

During the meeting, the Governor told them that the government is using all available resources to trace the missing duo.

She also enquired about the progress of the search and rescue operation by calling officials concerned amid the meeting, and further assured of continuing the operation.

Expressing concern over the situation in the state, the MLA stressed the need for a strong action to flush out the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and resolve the crisis.

JAC co-convenor Khundrakpam Lokendro, after meeting with the chief minister, told media persons that the CM informed them about the recovery of their mobile phones, which were found wrapped in a polythene bag near an oil pump located in Senapati Bazar.

The CM also told them that joint teams of central and state security forces are carrying out search and rescue operation in suspected areas and the operation will continue until they are found.

Biren also assured them to put all available resources in the operation.

By the time of filing this report, joint teams of 22 AR, Kangpokpi and Senapati police are conducting search and rescue operation in Motbung and other suspected areas.

However, there is no report of finding the missing duo.

Earlier, during the day, local people of Uripok, Iroisemba, Lamsang and Akham areas blocked road and organised protests demanding swift operation to rescue the two missing teens.

Around 35 persons belonging to the Meitei community are in the missing case in the ongoing communal violence in the state.

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