Bhalla assures all efforts to trace Mukesh by Sunday
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 21 2025: Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla has reportedly assured that all efforts would be made to trace Luwangthem Mukesh by March 23 (Sunday) .

Family members of Mukesh, representatives of the JAC Against the Missing of Luwangthem Mukesh held a meeting with Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan at 4.30 pm today at the invitation of the Governor.

Speaking to media persons at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall after the meeting with the Governor, JAC convenor Sukhdev Sharma said that the JAC earlier submitted a memorandum to the Governor to trace Luwangthem Mukesh s/o Gyanendra Das.

As the Governor was outside the State at that time, the memorandum was submitted to his Secretary.

Copies of the same memorandum were also submitted to the Chief Secretary and the DGP.

On the other hand, local people have been staging a sit-in-protest at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai since March 16 demanding safe rescue of Mukesh.

Sukhdev said that they presented a detailed report about the disappearance of Mukesh before the Governor.

The JAC representatives also expressed strong indignation against the Government's failure to trace the whereabouts of Mukesh even though the security agencies have been saying they are searching the missing youth for the last five days, the convenor said.

After listening to the JAC members and the worried family members, Ajay Kumar Bhalla assured that the Government would make all efforts to trace Mukesh by Sunday, according to the JAC convenor.

Urging the Governor to trace Mukesh by Sunday as assured by him, the JAC said that it would launch strong protest movements from the next day (March 24) in association with several CSOs and Meira Paibi organisations if the Government fails to establish the whereabouts of the missing youth by March 23 .

Perhaps, Mukesh went to the direction of Joujangtek following Union Home Minister Amit Shah's instruction for free movement on all highways and roads in Manipur, Sukhdev said.

He asserted that the Government of India should be held accountable for the disappearance of Mukesh at a time when there is President's Rule in the State.

It is a matter of grave concern that the Government is unable to trace Mukesh even though a multitude of Central security forces are deployed in the State, he said.

He said that the JAC vehemently condemns the Government of India's attitude of turning a blind eye and giving a free hand to Kuki militants and their supporters who are still armed to the teeth while Meitei village volunteers were made to surrender all their weapons in the name of bringing peace in the State.

On the other hand, a protest demonstration was staged at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall today too demanding safe and immediate rescue of Luwangthem Mukesh.

Speaking to media persons at the protest site, one Ningthoujam Binakumari Leima pointed out that the State's law and order is now the responsibility of the Government of India as President's Rule has already been imposed in the State.

Taking strong exception to the President's Rule Government's failure to trace Mukesh even after five/six days, she asked if the security forces' failure to trace Mukesh all these days is any indication of a deep rooted conspiracy between the Government of India and Kukis.

She then urged the Government of India to launch military crackdown against Kuki militants and their supporters if the Government has any intention to rescue the missing youth.

Later in the evening, the JAC formed in connection with the disappearance of Mukesh met Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Satyabrata at his residence.

The Speaker reportedly assured to convene a meeting of the MLAs and mount a pressure on the Governor to rescue the missing youth.

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