Indian Army rescues kidnapped Army officer in Manipur after 10-hour ordeal

An Indian Army officer, abducted from his home in Manipur earlier today, has been successfully rescued by the Indian Army after nearly 10 hours, as stated by the Army in an official statement.

Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Naib Subedar Konsam Kheda Singh, hailing from Charangpat Mamang Leikai in Thoubal district of Manipur, was taken from his residence by unidentified individuals in a vehicle at 9 AM this morning while he was on leave.

#IndianArmy rescued it's JCO, Nb Sub Konsam Kheda Singh, of Charangpat Mamang Leikai, Thoubal, #Manipur, abducted this morning, while on leave. @manipur_police is investigating the case @SpokespersonMoD @adgpi @manipur_police @official_dgar @manipur_cmo @easterncomd @Spearcorps pic.twitter.com/sLqDNxksse

— PRO (Defence), Manipur, Nagaland & South Arunachal (@prodefkohima) March 8, 2024

According to the Army's statement, a coordinated joint search operation was promptly initiated by security agencies to locate and rescue the JCO.

After concerted efforts by the security forces, JCO Kheda Singh was safely rescued at 6:30 PM today. Currently, he is under the custody of Waikhong Police Station in Thoubal district, with the Manipur Police conducting investigations into the incident.

In a post shared on social media platform X, the Defence Ministry's Public Relations Officer for Nagaland, Manipur & Southern Arunachal Pradesh confirmed the rescue of Nb Sub Konsam Kheda Singh and noted that Manipur Police is actively pursuing the case.

This is the fourth kidnapping episode in Manipur since May 2023, amidst escalating ethnic tensions in the region.

Previously, in September 2023, a former Assam Regiment soldier, Serto Thangthang Kom, was abducted and subsequently killed by an unidentified armed group while stationed in Manipur's Leimakhong with the Defence Service Corps (DSC).

Similar incidents in the past 

Furthermore, in a separate incident two months later, four individuals traveling in an SUV from Churachandpur to Leimakhong were kidnapped and killed by an unidentified armed group. Among the victims were family members of an Indian Army soldier serving in Jammu and Kashmir, while the fifth passenger, the soldier's father, managed to escape and receive medical assistance.

Moreover, an Additional Superintendent of Police was briefly abducted in Imphal on February 27 by attackers identified as Arambai Tenggol by the police, prompting Manipur Police commandos to stage a symbolic protest against such incidents in the state.