Imphal: An elderly villager has been reported missing, and a field hut was destroyed by fire in a Saturday afternoon incident near Leimakhong, located within the Saitu assembly constituency of Manipur’s Kangpokpi district.
The missing individual, identified as 71-year-old Hemjang Haokip, belongs to Khunkho Kuki village.
Sources indicated that heavy rainfall on Saturday had kept most residents away from their agricultural lands, delaying the discovery of the burnt hut until late evening.
Haokip, who frequently stayed overnight at the field shelter, could not be located when villagers inspected the site.
Initial community search efforts were called off after dark due to security concerns stemming from the prevailing community tensions in the state.
In an official release, the Kuki Youth Organisation (KYO), Leimakhong Block, alleged that Haokip was captured from his field at approximately 3:00 PM by cadres of the NSCN-IM.
Demanding his immediate and safe return, the KYO urged law enforcement and security agencies to launch an urgent investigation, intensify the search, and hold the perpetrators accountable for both the abduction and the arson.