Another survivor of the Leithao village massacre which took place on December 4 in Tengnoupal district, Manipur where 13 Meitei youths were ruthlessly killed by Kuki militants, has been handed over to his family members by 3rd Assam rifles Pallel through Pallel police station around 9.45 am on Friday.
Laishram Rajesh, 26, son of Nageshwor of Heirok part II Keithel Mamang, Thoubal district who managed to escape the killings was feeble and could not even walk when he was rescued, as per sources.
Rajesh left home on December 2 to be a village volunteer and 23 of them reached Leithao village on December 4, sources said. Some Kukis villagers who were collecting charcoal saw them approaching the village.
They fled from the spot and reported their arrival to the Kuki militants in the village, added the source.
It further said that around eight armed Kuki militants came in a gypsy and after chasing the Meitei youths shot three of them dead.
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Some of the Meitei youths fled the scene by jumping down the hillside. Two Meitei youths went in search of their group leader who went missing from the group which ended up dead in the hands of the Kukis and all 13 of them were killed in cold blood likewise, sources said.
Nine survivors decided to enter Myanmar to save themselves. However, Rajesh decided to leave behind while the remaining eight went ahead and fled into Myanmar, as per sources.
It continued that Rajesh survived alone in the jungle with the food they carried till December 6 but after that he survived only on water for 10 days. He crossed the jungle and reached Yaingangpokpi village on December 19 and met the villagers.
The villagers carried him on their back and took him to the Assam rifles. He stayed at the AR camp till December 21 and was handed over to Tengnoupal PS on Friday. Later he was handed over to Pallel Police Station and safely reunited with his family members.
It may be recalled that one Yengkhom Arnold Singh of Kakching reportedly managed to escape the killings at Leithao village.
He was rescued by the Assam rifles in Kamjong and was later handed to his family members earlier on December 11. Sources added that Arnold also managed to escape the massacre alone.
