Imphal, Oct 4: A 71-year-old man, who was reported missing following an alleged abduction from his field in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, was found dead in a nearby forest on Sunday. The deceased, identified as Hemjang Haokip of Khunkho Kuki Village near Leimakhong, had gone missing after his field hut was allegedly set ablaze on Saturday.

The circumstances surrounding Haokip’s death and the identity of those responsible were not immediately known. According to sources, his body was found with his hands reportedly tied behind his back.

Haokip’s farm trousers, shirt and sweater were recovered during a search on Sunday, following which security forces deployed sniffer dogs and intensified efforts to trace him. His body was subsequently found in a nearby forest.

According to earlier reports, heavy rainfall had kept many villagers away from their fields on Saturday, and the incident came to light only in the evening. Haokip reportedly frequently spent the night in his field hut.

After learning that the hut had been burnt and Haokip was missing, villagers launched a search that continued until dark but failed to locate him. The search was suspended overnight due to darkness and security concerns.

The Kuki Youth Organisation (KYO), Leimakhong Block, had earlier demanded Haokip’s immediate and safe return and urged the authorities and security agencies to intensify the search and take action against those responsible. “Our two villages have maintained peaceful and cordial relations for many decades.

In this regard, we would like to make it clear that our village and its residents have no involvement whatsoever in the disappearance of Pu Hemjang Haokip,” the statement said. The village authority appealed against unverified allegations and speculation, saying such claims could create unnecessary distrust and tension between the two villages, which it said had maintained peaceful and cordial relations for decades.

It also said the village had imposed movement restrictions on its residents from August 14 as a precautionary measure following an earlier incident involving Naga villages. The incident comes against the backdrop of renewed Kuki-Naga tensions in Manipur, particularly in parts of Kangpokpi and neighbouring areas.

In recent months, there have been reports of abductions, hostage-taking and attacks involving civilians from both communities, raising concerns over possible retaliatory violence. Security forces continued search and security operations in the area, while further details surrounding Haokip’s death remained awaited.