On leave, Army jawan killed in Manipur after being kidnapped

An Army jawan, who was on leave and was in his native state of strife torn Manipur, was killed allegedly after being kidnapped by unidentified miscreants.

According to the police sources, the jawan, identified as Serto Thangthang Kom, a resident of Tarung in Imphal west, was kidnapped by three armed miscreants at gun point from his home on Sunday and was taken away in a vehicle.

The jawan’s son, the only eye witness to the kidnapping, told the police that three-armed people took away his father while they were working in the porch of their house in a white car.

A massive search operation was launched to trace the jawan, who was deployed in Manipur in the Defense Security Corps (DSC) as a sepoy. His body was found in a locality in Imphal East, the police said.

There was a bullet wound on his forehead signifying that he had been shot in the head from close range, sources said. His body was identified by his brother and another relative.

The deceased jawan is survived by his wife and two children, the police added. The Army decried the killing and said that it stood with the family of the jawan.

Manipur has been witnessing large scale violence for the past several months. Large scale clashes have taken place between Meitei and Kuki communities in the state which has left at least 175 dead and hundreds of others injured.

According to the official sources, around three dozen people were reported to be missing while 96 unclaimed bodies had been kept at the morgues.

The unabated violence has invited sharp criticism from the opposition parties as well as the international organisations. The centre however said that every possible step was being taken to stem the violence.