NEW DELHI: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday expressed deep concern over the disappearance of 56-year-old Meitei man Laishram Kamalbabu from the Leimakhong Army camp, calling the incident “very unfortunate.” He criticised the event occurring within the Army campus and assured that both the central and state governments are prioritising efforts to locate Kamalbabu.
“The Central government has asked the concerned authority to find out the person’s whereabouts and the state govt has also sent the team in search of the missing person. Our common agenda is to find the missing person and it is very unfortunate that such an incident happened inside the Army campus,” he said.
Kamalbabu, who had been supervising work for a contractor with the Military Engineering Services (MES) at the Leimakhong military station, went missing on November 25. He had left his home in Imphal West at 9 am for work, but failed to return later that afternoon. His family reported his disappearance after attempts to contact him failed. Kamalbabu’s younger brother filed a missing person’s report, stating that Kamalbabu had been seen inside the Army campus, accompanied by a Nepali individual, before his phone was switched off.
The Indian Army had launched an extensive search operation, which includes ground combing, drone surveillance, and aerial platforms in the military station and surrounding villages. The defence public relations office confirmed that the search was ramped up after they received the missing person report, which came on the evening of November 25. Despite these efforts, Kamalbabu’s whereabouts remain unknown.
A joint action committee, formed by local residents, staged a sit-in protest in Imphal West on Wednesday, demanding that the Army ensure Kamalbabu’s safe return. The protesters insisted that the Indian Army be held accountable for the incident, calling for immediate action to locate the missing man.
Chief minister Biren Singh said that the Army holds responsibility for tracing Kamalbabu, especially considering the gravity of the situation. He acknowledged the ongoing unrest caused by the incident, coming on the heels of another tragedy in Jiribam, where three women and three children were killed. Singh confirmed that the state government, alongside the Army, has been in touch with central officials to expedite the search.