Imphal: In a concerted effort to locate a missing Meitei man, Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, over 2,000 personnel from the Indian Army have been mobilized to join the search operations. Singh, a 56-year-old works supervisor employed by a contractor with the Military Engineering Services (MES) at the Leimakhong Military Station of the 57th Mountain Division, has been unaccounted for since November 25.
Singh, originally from Assam’s Cachar district, was reported missing from the military premises, prompting Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to urge military authorities to take accountability for his disappearance. In a statement posted on social media, Manipur Police outlined that comprehensive search operations, undertaken since the date of Singh’s disappearance, are being executed in partnership with the Indian Army.
As part of these operations, the Indian Army has committed substantial resources, including over 2,000 troops, helicopters, drones, and tracker dogs to aid in the search. In addition to physical searches, ongoing investigations involving technical intelligence are also being employed to locate the missing man.
In tandem with the search efforts, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed to address Singh’s disappearance has initiated a sit-in protest at Kanto Sabal, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the military station. Protests have gained traction, with Singh’s wife, Akoijam Belarani, actively participating as demonstrators echo concerns about his possible abduction by militants.
The military camp, situated in Kangpokpi district, lies around 16 kilometers from Imphal and is surrounded by the hills that are home to the Kuki community. Ethnic tensions have been heightened in this region since May of the previous year, resulting in violence that has claimed more than 250 lives and forced Meiteis in the vicinity of Leimakhong to flee their homes. Given the prevailing circumstances, protesters are increasingly vocal about their belief that Singh’s disappearance may be linked to the ongoing ethnic conflict in the area.
