Two Missing Meitei Teenagers Found Dead, Two Arrested in Manipur

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Two Members of Kuki Revolutionary Army Arrested in Connection with Missing Meitei Teenagers Case

The Manipur Police announced on Tuesday that they have apprehended two individuals who are believed to be associated with the Kuki Revolutionary Army (Unification), a hill-based insurgent group. The arrests were made in connection with the case of two missing Meitei teenagers, Maibam Avinash (16) and Ningthoujam Anthony (19).

The two boys had gone missing after visiting the Sekmai area in Imphal West district on Sunday morning to attend a function. The discovery of their mobile phones wrapped in a black plastic bag near an oil pump in Senapati district, which is predominantly Naga-dominated, raised concerns about their safety.

In a social media post, the Manipur Police stated that the two arrested individuals are “highly suspected to be involved in committing the crime.” Combing operations are currently underway to locate and apprehend the remaining suspects.

However, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (Unification) vehemently denied the allegations made against its members. The group dismissed the charges as an intentional attempt to tarnish their organization’s reputation, as reported by the Deccan Herald.

The arrests have further exacerbated tensions in the Meitei-dominated Imphal valley, leading students to stage protests demanding swift action against those responsible for the disappearance of the two boys. Meira Paibis, a community of Meitei women, has even resorted to road blockades on NH-37, which connects Imphal to Silchar via Jiribam, according to NorthEast India 24.

Adding to the volatile situation in Manipur, four Kuki-Zo individuals, including two women, were allegedly abducted on Tuesday morning by a Meitei mob. Security forces managed to rescue a 65-year-old man from the group, but he sustained serious injuries. The incident resulted in a fierce exchange of gunfire on the border between Kangpokpi district, where the Kuki-Zos are in the majority, and the Imphal valley.

During the exchange, nine people were injured, including two police personnel and seven civilians, all from the Meitei community. Ksh Shivakanta Singh, the superintendent of police for Imphal West, confirmed the identities of the injured individuals. The ongoing clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities have plagued Manipur, resulting in the loss of over 200 lives since the conflict erupted in early May. Additionally, approximately 60,000 individuals have been displaced from their homes.

The apprehension of the two individuals associated with the Kuki Revolutionary Army (Unification) marks a significant development in the case of the missing Meitei teenagers. As investigations continue, authorities are determined to bring all those involved in the disappearances to justice. The situation in Manipur remains tense, with ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities persisting. The need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict is paramount to restore stability and harmony in the region..