IMPHAL, March 18: Tension continues to escalate in Imphal West and Imphal East districts of Manipur on Tuesday following the disappearance of a 20-year-old Meitei youth, Luwangthem Mukesh, who has been missing since Sunday afternoon.

A senior police official said that Manipur Police personnel, along with Assam Rifles and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, have been conducting search operations jointly and separately in Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, and Kangpokpi districts.

Mukesh, a resident of Keishampat Lelmajam Leikal in Imphal West, was last seen heading towards the tribal-dominated district of Churachandpur. His family filed a missing person report at the Imphal Police Station the following morning. Authorities have launched a full-scale inquiry, with security forces conducting search operations in multiple districts. Tracker dogs have been deployed to assist in locating the missing youth.

CCTV footage reveals that Mukesh’s vehicle was last spotted in Bishnupur district, near Chinikon, close to the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi district. While his mobile phone was traced to the Kuki-Zo tribal inhabited area of Jouzangtek, the exact location of Mukesh is yet to be determined.

The case has stirred widespread fear in the region, especially among the Meitei community, as it is suspected that Mukesh may have ventured into the Kuki-dominated areas. His disappearance has triggered protests, with demonstrators gathering near Raj Bhavan in Imphal, demanding immediate action.

Women’s rights activist Sujata Devi, who participated in the protest alongside Mukesh’s mother, set a 24-hour deadline for authorities to locate the youth. Devi warned of intensified protests if no breakthrough was made and expressed concerns about a potential hostage situation, citing previous instances of unaccounted-for captives.

Local MLA Sapam Nishikant Singh urged the government to prioritize Mukesh’s safe release on humanitarian grounds and stressed the urgent need to restore peace in the region. Meanwhile, Maheshwar Thounaojam, National General Secretary of the RPI (Athawale), also called for immediate police intervention, expressing concerns that Mukesh may be held in the Jouzangtek area.