Rs. 10 Lakh reward for information on missing youth

Imphal: The Manipur Government has announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh for any informant with credible information about the whereabouts of a 20-year-old youth who has been missing since March 16.

The missing individual, identified as Luwangthem Mukesh, son of L. Gyanendra Das of Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal West, was last seen on March 16. A case was registered at the Imphal police station. Manipur Police, in collaboration with Assam Rifles and other security forces, have been conducting joint search operations.

“Manipur Police, under the supervision of a senior-level officer, along with Assam Rifles and other security forces, have conducted joint operations for the search and rescue of the missing person in suspected areas across the districts of Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Noney, and other parts of the state, utilizing advanced technical data analysis and intelligence gathering,” read a statement issued on Saturday by the Manipur Home department, signed by joint secretary (Home) Mayengbam Veto Singh.

“The state government has also announced a reward of Rs. 10 lakh to any informant providing credible information leading to the safe return of the missing person,” the statement said.

Earlier, on March 17, Maheshwar Thaonaojam, the national secretary of the Republican Party of India Ramdas Athawale, met with the state police chief. He later informed the reporters, “I was told that the last mobile location of Mukesh was traced around the border area of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts, near the location where traces of two missing students, 17-year-old Hijam Linthoingambi and 20-year-old Phijam Hemanjit, were found in 2023.”

Independent MLA Nishikant Singh Sapam also submitted a memorandum to the governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, on March 27, requesting urgent efforts to locate the missing youth.

“According to the FIR report, Luwangthem Mukesh went missing on March 16 at approximately 2 pm after leaving his residence in a red Maruti Alto 800 (registration number MN05J-0018),” the memorandum mentioned.