Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network ) A couple of days after 3 out of the 4 persons , who went missing from Bishnupur district’s Kumbi area, were found killed at a foothill , body of the fourth person bearing bullet wounds was recovered close to the same spot on Saturday.
The state police, in a joint search operation with security forces, recovered the mortal remains of Ahanthem Dara at Wangoo Sabal Maning Ching Meichakpi foothills in Bishunpur district bordering Kuki-Zo dominated Churachandpur district around 11.10 am.
Police sources said that Dara’s body with bullet wounds on his thigh and cheek was recovered not very far away from the spot from where the three were found.
Officer-in-charge of Kumbi police station, Okram Doren said that they retrieved Dara’s body from the spot and deposited it at the mortuary of the Imphal –based Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for post mortem
On Wednesday morning, Dara (56) along with the three other deceased – Oinam Romen Meitie (45), Thoudam Ibomcha Meitei (53) and his son Thoudam Anand Meitei (27), had gone to collect firewood from the nearby jungle. All four belonged to Wangoo Terakhong Akasoi Ward No 7.
Other than Dara, the lifeless bodies of the three, which also bore bullet wounds, were found the next day from the foothills from where some knives for cutting firewood and bicycles belonging to them were also recovered.
Late Dara’s son Ahanthem Chakkar said he believed that his father was alive, but was mercilessly killed by Kuki militants.
“As my father received bullet injury in his thigh and his body was recovered not very far from where three of our locality were found there is possibility that he abortively attempted to flee from the spot from the clutch of the militants,” Chakkar added.
“After having his meal, my father left home on Wednesday morning around 10 for collecting wood at the foothills which is within Bishunupur district,” the bereaved son continued.
Leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) set up by Kumbi people in connection with the killing and family members of all four deceased met chief minister N Biren Singh in Imphal to discuss issues concerning fresh attacks launched on Kumbi villagers by Kuki militants and measures to protect the people,” Chakkar added.
Meanwhile, irate people of Kumbi area, who expressed disappointment over the alleged failure to safeguard them by the army personnel deployed there, demanded the government to remove the personnel and replace them with state police.
