A combined team of 4 Assam Rifles and 20 JAT Regiment successfully rescued five Meitei civilians who were abducted by Kuki militants on Saturday night, said a IGAR (South) release.
The abduction took place around 7:20 pm when the civilians were traveling in an autorickshaw towards Gwaltabi village under the Yaingangpokpi police station in Imphal East, the release stated.
Upon receiving information about the abduction, security personnel swiftly launched a rescue operation in the area, it said, adding the personnel faced a tense situation as locals reported hearing gunshots around 8:30 pm, heightening the tension and panic in the Gwaltabi and Yaingangpokpi area.
Undeterred by the challenging circumstances, the team located and rescued the abducted individuals, it added.
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The release maintained that the combined team's relentless dedication and professionalism paid off as they successfully rescued all five Meitei civilians, along with the autorickshaw, from the clutches of the Kuki militants.
The rescued individuals expressed their deep gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the 4 Assam Rifles for their courageous and selfless act of saving them from a potentially dangerous situation, the release added.
The 4 Assam Rifles, also known as the Sentinels of the North East, have always stood firm in their commitment to protecting and serving the local population, it said, adding this recent rescue operation is yet another testament to their unwavering dedication to maintaining peace and security in the region.
The timely response and successful outcome of this operation serve as a reminder of the crucial role played by the security forces in safeguarding the well-being of the people, it added.
The rescued individuals are identified as Oinam Naoba, 27, of Wongpik Ingkhol Leikai, Imphal East; Laikhuram Kalachand, 37, of Pokrabi; Arambam Champion, 38, of Naharup, Imphal East; Thangjam Ranjit, 39, Yumnam Leikai, Imphal East and RK Jaysana, 32, Nongpok Lourembam, Thoubal.
Following their rescue, they were handed over to the Yaingangpokpi police station, the release said.
