The chief of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (Mangal/ Nando faction ) Thokchom Nando on Tuesday escaped from a hospital security ward where he was undergoing treatment.

The 34-year-old man was found missing from the male ortho ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).

The police launched a search operation around the area of the hospital in search of the man.

The Manipur government had declared him a ‘wanted’ man and announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information on him, reports TOI.

Nando had been admitted to JNIMS last year after complaining of a backache and even underwent a surgery.

He was being constantly guarded at JNIMS by three cops from the Imphal East Reserve police force and four jail security personnel.

A case has been registered by the Porompat police station and an investigation has been initiated to ascertain lapses on part of the security personnel.

Nando had been arrested for many criminal cases including the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Lungnila Elizabeth, daughter of former minister Francis Ngajokpa .

Elizabeth was abducted by some unidentified men from the gate of Little Flower School in Imphal on November 4, 2003.

Her highly decomposed body was found inside a gunny bag at Sadokpam village in the state on November 12, 2003.

As per reports, Elizabeth was abducted for a ransom demand of Rs 15 lakh.

The case was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after massive protests.