Two bodies recovered in Manipur search for missing youths

Manipur Police said joint security teams recovered two bodies on Sunday while searching near SP Road for two youths who went missing from Taphou Kuki village. The recovery was made in a hilly area along the boundary of Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, east of National Highway 2. The youths, who were reported missing on October 28 or October 29, were identified in some accounts as Tinginlun Chongloi and Paoginlal Hangsing. Reports gave differing ages for Chongloi, while listing Hangsing as 20. Police said identification and legal formalities were still underway after the bodies were found. The reports did not establish who was responsible for their deaths or the circumstances in which they died. The search operation involved Manipur Police, the Central Reserve Police Force, Assam Rifles, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action and the Rapid Action Force. Police said search and combing operations would continue to identify and apprehend those responsible. The bodies were taken to Kangpokpi, according to one report. The Committee on Tribal Unity, or COTU, had alleged that the youths were abducted by Naga militants. That allegation has not been independently established. The...