NEW DELHI, Sept 17: An army soldier on leave was kidnapped from his home in Manipur and killed. The unfortunate incident was reported on Saturday and his body was found on Sunday morning.
Sepoy Serto Thangthang Kom was kidnapped by some unidentified armed men from his home in Imphal West district around 10 AM on Saturday. According to his 10-year-old son, who was the only eyewitness to the crime, three men entered their home while his father and he were working on the porch.
The men placed a pistol on Sepoy Kom’s head and forced him into a white vehicle, his son told police. His body was found at Khuningthek village, east of Mongjam in Imphal East. His identity was confirmed by his brother and brother-in-law who said the soldier had a single bullet wound on his head.
Sepoy Kom is survived by his wife, daughter and son.
“We strongly condemn the killing of Sep Serto Thangthang Kom and stand by his family in these difficult times,” the Army said in a statement. The last rites shall be conducted as per the wishes of the family, as per an official statement. Army has rushed a team to assist the family in all manners possible, it said.
(Manas Dasgupta)
