Imphal: In a distressing incident in the strife-torn state of Manipur, an army jawan on leave met a tragic end after being abducted at gunpoint from his residence by three unidentified assailants. The soldier, Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom, aged 41, was stationed at the Leimakhong Military Station in Manipur and was enjoying his leave when the horrific incident occurred.
The abduction transpired at approximately 10 am on Saturday when three unidentified individuals forcibly entered Kom’s home in Neikailong, situated in the Imphal West district. According to Amit Shukla, the defense spokesperson based in Kohima, the sepoy was accompanied by his 10-year-old son, who became the sole eyewitness to the harrowing crime. The intruders brandished a pistol and threatened Kom before coercing him into a white vehicle, which they then used to drive him away from his residence.
Tragically, the lifeless body of Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom was discovered around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday at Khuningthek, located in the neighboring Imphal East district. The distance between the abduction site and his body’s discovery was approximately 20 kilometers.
Sepoy Kom had been on leave since September 3, enjoying a 15-day break from his military duties, and was scheduled to return on Sunday, as confirmed by Shukla.
The Kom community, to which the soldier belonged, is considered a minority tribe in Manipur. A representative from the Kom Union Manipur clarified that the community had maintained a neutral stance amidst the ongoing unrest that has predominantly pitted Kukis against Meiteis in the region.
Expressing their condemnation of the heinous act, the army has pledged support to the bereaved family during these trying times. It has dispatched a team to assist in every possible manner. The army vowed to respect the family’s wishes in conducting Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom’s last rites.