Army soldier abducted, later killed; CoTU condemns barbaric acts perpetrated by Meitei armed miscreants

A personnel of the Defence Service Corps Platoon at Leimakhong, who was abducted from his residence in Neikailong Tarung, Imphal West, on September 16, was found dead with bullet wound on the head.

The body of the Indian Army soldier was found at Khuningthek village in Manipur's Imphal East district on Sunday.

The Public Relation Officer (PRO), Ministry of Defence, Nagaland and Manipur, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that an Indian Army soldier, Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom (41), was abducted and later killed by three unidentified miscreants, while on leave at Tarung, Happy Valley, Imphal West. He was deployed at DSC Platoon, Leimakhong, Manipur. He is survived by his wife and 2 children.

The deceased Jawan- Serto Thangthang Kom, 43, son of Serto Aphun hailed from Litan, Chandel district, and presently staying near Seventh-Day Adventist Church near Neikailong, Tarung, Imphal West.

Eyewitness has reported that Thangthang was abducted by at least three unknown miscreants in a white car at around 10.15 am on Saturday. A case has been registered at Lamphel Police Station for further investigation.

It was learnt that Thangthang after taking voluntary retirement from 8th Assam Regiment, Leimakhong, was re-engaged at the Defense Service Corps Platoon at Leimakhong, but he was on leave from his duty and was to join on Monday.

Wife of Thangthang,  Somiwon Kom told media that her family has been living in the said area so that they could send their two children to school. Earlier, when confirmation was made regarding his abduction, Somiwon had made an appealed to release her husband on humanitarian ground.

President of Kom Union Manipur (KUM), Serto Ahou Kom had also earlier appealed to release Thangthang, pointing out that misunderstandings could be solved with talks. He had also said the Kom community has been surviving as one of the minority communities in Manipur, a peace loving community and did not involved or sided with any other community in the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a civil body from Kangpokpi district, strongly condemned the barbaric acts of the crime allegedly perpetrated by the Meitei armed miacreants.

"Such barbaric acts perpetrated in broad daylight shows how the armed Meitei miscreants are allowed to roam freely around Imphal Valley to carry out terror activities without hesitation to once again prove that Manipur is no longer a state run by a democratically elected government but run by a communal minded autocratic rulers," CoTU stated in a press condemnation issued on Sunday.

CoTU stated that despite the appeal made by Thangthang's wife and the President of Kom Union for his safe release, the plight of the peace-loving community was turned into a deaf ear by those miscreants for reasons best known to them.

Claiming that the State police failed to perform its duties in the Imphal valley, COTU reiterated that the reimposition of AFSPA in the valley would be the only way out for the Government of India to contain the armed Meiteis from carrying out such inhumane acts against innocent people.

COTU also appealed to the Indian Army to deliver justice to its fallen jawan so that the alleged 'Meitei armed miscreants' and 'fake commandos' are reminded of the might of the Indian Army.