Imphal: Security forces found a missing Kuki man in Manipur’s Senapati district on Friday after he became stranded there due to a 48-hour shutdown in neighbouring Kangpokpi district.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Laljahao Saum, was traced by the district police and the Assam Rifles after a missing-person report was filed on Friday morning.
Officials said his phone battery had died, cutting off communication. He was later found safe at Senapati Bazar and escorted back to his home district.
The incident took place during a 48-hour shutdown called by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) to demand the release of two other Kuki youths, Thangginlun Chongloi and Paoginlal Hangsing.
The two reportedly went missing after they were allegedly abducted by militants on Wednesday.
According to police sources, Saum was returning from Madhya Pradesh on casual leave and reached Senapati by passenger vehicle early Friday morning.
However, the CoTU shutdown, which began on Thursday evening, disrupted his journey. The protest was called over the suspected abduction of the two youths near Taphou Kuki village.
Security personnel said Saum was neither harassed nor detained. He was handed over to the Assam Rifles to ensure his safe return to Kangpokpi.
Meanwhile, Senapati police, the Assam Rifles and Central security forces are continuing their search for the two missing youths.
Police have registered an FIR in connection with their disappearance. Search teams are focusing on the Maremei village area, where the youths were last seen.