Abducted man found in RIMS, dies at home
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, November 29 2023: A 46-year-old man from Thoubal district, who had been abducted by unidentified people from his house on November 16, was reportedly found in RIMS hospital under oxygen administration, and died at home after upon getting discharged.

The victim has been identified as Sapam Santosh, son of S Gandhar, of Sapam Mayai Leikai under Khongjom police station, Thoubal district.

He was reportedly abducted by unidentified masked armed men on November 16 and died on November 23 .

Both his parents had passed and he was the only male member of three siblings.

One of his younger sisters is married while the youngest is unmarried and living with him.

He was a painter and worked in a workshop located at Khongjom for painting number plates of vehicles.

His younger sister Valentina told media persons that around four to five unknown armed masked men came in a Maruti Gypsy in the evening of November 16 at around 5.30 when she was tutoring some local students at their outhouse.

They asked if her brother Santosh was at home to which she responded that he was yet to return home, as she did not notice her brother returning home.

There was no electricity at that time.

However, the unknown men told her that they knew Santosh had returned home and called him out.

As soon as his brother came out, they forcibly took him without allowing him to change clothes, she said.

They further told her that they are members of SORAPA, an anti-drug organisation and they came to make her brother give up substance abuse.

They also took her phone number and gave a phone number for communication before leaving with her brother.

The married sister San-toshini said that as soon as Valentina informed her about the situation, she called the phone number given by the unidentified men.

Upon asking their location, the person on the phone told her that they are in Phoudel.

She requested them not to assault her brother and let her come and take him home.

However, the person told her to come the next morning while assuring that they will not harm him.

On the next morning, they went to Phoudel and met some members of SORAPA, during which, they told her that their brother Santosh had been admitted to Revenant Rehabilitation Centre, Samurou.

Valentina then went to the Centre taking some clothes but the staff did not allow her to meet her brother, she said.

She further informed that on November 20, one of the staff of the Centre called over the phone and asked a family member to come.

Upon visiting, they found Santosh in agitated mood saying that he did not want to stay at the Centre.

However, the staff refused to release him and even threatened them.

On the next day, they received another phone call asking if Santosh had any health condition as he was complaining of acidity.

On November 23, they received yet another phone call from the Centre and told them that Santosh had fainted and asked the family members to come soon at RIMS.

Upon reaching the hospital, they found their brother in serious condition under oxygen administration.

They took him out of RIMS and rushed to Raj Medicity in the hope of saving his life.

However, doctors at Raj Medicity told them that his condition was serious.

Losing all hopes, they brought him back home and he died shortly after reaching home on the same day at around 9.30 pm, she added.

Santoshini further informed that the staff of the rehabilitation centre might have assaulted her brother as his head was swollen.

Doctors also told them that there were haemorrhage in his head, she said while urging the authority to investigate and deliver justice for her brother.

Meanwhile, locals of Sapam Mayai Leikai led by the local Meira Paibi Lup organised a sit-in protest on November 24 and raised several demands to the state government.

Interacting with the media at the protest site, Sapam Apunba Meira Paibi Lup secretray Thounaojam Roma said that Santosh was abducted from his house in good health by members of SORAPA and kept him at the rehabilitation centre, where he was possibly physically assaulted.

Some years back, a man from Sapam had also died at the same rehabilitation centre, she recounted.

SORAPA and Revenant Rehabilitation Centre are responsible for the death of Santosh and the government should investigate the incident thoroughly and take up stringent legal actions against the culprits, she said.

She also warned of launching different forms of protest if the government fails to take action against them at the earliest.

Comment