KANGPOKPI: Four civilians who went missing after reportedly being approached by armed individuals while collecting firewood in the upper area of Hengbung village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district were located and safely handed over to their respective village authorities following a search operation by the Assam Rifles on October 20.
According to a report from the Assam Rifles, information was received at around 9 am that five individuals from Hengbung and Taphou Kuki villages had gone to an area locally known as Parsai Khutti for woodcutting.
At around 10.30 am, the Assam Rifles reported that some armed individuals arrived and attempted to apprehend the group. While one person managed to escape, the remaining four went missing.
Following receipt of the information, the a search operation was launched and two teams were deployed in the jungle area. After approximately three hours of searching, all four missing individuals were located and safely handed over to their respective village authorities.
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Those rescued were identified as Hemang Vaiphei (58) of Hengbung village, and Minlal Chongloi (45), Nampu Chonglo (39), and Hethem Chongloi (40) of Taphou Kuki village.
The individual who escaped was identified as Lunjamang Kipgen, (37)of Hengbung village.
The Assam Rifles stated that the timely receipt of information and prompt intervention helped locate the four individuals and avert a potentially serious situation.