Manipur: Indian army soldier abducted and killed by miscreants; Single bullet wound found on the head

The deceased army soldier was identified as Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom. Sepoy Serto had earlier served in the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army and was now posted with DSC Platoon at Leimakhong Military Station, the army said. He hailed from Tarung in Imphal West in Manipur.

#SpearCorps pays homage to Sep Serto Thangthang Kom, who was abducted and later killed by unidentified miscreants in #Manipur. Sep Serto had earlier served in Assam Regiment of Indian Army and was now posted with #DSC Platoon at Leimakhong Military Station. He was on leave at his… pic.twitter.com/giRdUdLait

— SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) September 17, 2023

Police sources said that unidentified armed men abducted Kom, who was on leave. He was abducted from his home from around 10 a.m on September 16. His son was the only eyewitness of the abduction. The 10-year-old son of the deceased army man informed police that three men entered their home and placed a pistol on his father’s head and forced him to go with them. They took him in a white vehicle and fled from the spot, police said.

On September 17 at around 9.30 am, soldier Kom’s body was found at Khuningthek village, east of Mongjam under Sagolmang police station in Imphal East district. His identity was confirmed by his brother and brother-in-law. Sources said that the soldier had a bullet wound on his head.

Kom is survived by wife, daughter and son. Meanwhile Manipur police on September 16 arrested five persons with sophisticated weapons.

There have been reports of extortion threats, misuse of police uniform and impersonation by armed miscreants. In view of this, Manipur Police has been making all out efforts to curb the same.

In one such operation, on September 16, Manipur Police arrested 05 (five) persons with sophisticated weapons in camouflage uniform. In response to this arrest, large number of people came out to protest and tried to storm Porompat PS demanding release of the arrested persons. Joint security forces repelled this attack by firing tear gas. Few persons received minor injuries including RAF personnel. These five arrested persons were produced before Judicial Magistrate and they have been remanded into further police custody.

Strict legal action is being taken against these anti-social elements. Manipur Police is continuously carrying out such operations and are trying to restore peace and normalcy in the State.

Search operations were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Imphal-West, Imphal-East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching and Churachandpur districts in which 01 arm, 14 Country made Pumpi, 120 ammunitions, 02 Kg Gun Powder, 03 Kg Country made Pumpi Gun ammunition, 01 Country made Bomb with triggering Mechanism were recovered from Churachandpur district. It should be mentioned that over 175 people were killed in Manipur when violence broke out on May 3, 2023. Over 1100 people were injured in the violence and more that 4500 housed were torched down by miscreants in the state.