Manipur: Skeletal remains of missing Village Volunteer found after performing his last rites

Imphal: The skeletal remains suspected to be of a missing Village Volunteer (VV) Ngangom Nevi (20) presumed dead and having performed his last rites as per Meitei customary practices were found on Wednesday, the police said on Thursday.

Ng Nevi of Sugnu Mandop Leikai in Kakching district of Manipur went missing on May 28 following an attack by militants at Sugnu.

He was killed by militants on May 28, 2023, and his body remained untraceable to date.

Acting on a tip-off, Manipur police using sniffer dogs carried out a search operation and the skeletal remains were found in Sokom village of Chandel district at around 11 am on Wednesday.

The relatives and friends of the missing individual said that clothes similar to those worn by Ng Nevi were found at the site.

An Executive Magistrate was also present during the operation. The skeletons are being deposited at the JNIMS mortuary.

A missing report was filed on May 31, 2023, by the family members at Sugnu Police Station. The operation was launched after a video of the brutal killing went viral on social media platforms on Tuesday.

As the person was assumed to be dead though his body was not found, his last rites were performed with a Pangong tree replica months back as per Meitei customary traditions.

Over 35 reports of missing cases are registered in connection with the ongoing ethnic violence that cost the lives of over 200 persons so far.