Imphal, Manipur, December 4 (HBTV): The Manipur High Court has constituted a committee to investigate the case of Laishram Kamal Babu, who went missing on November 25 from the Leimakhong Army Camp.

The decision, made on December 3, follows a hearing by a double bench comprising Chief Justice D. Krishnakumar and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu. The court was addressing a petition filed by the younger brother of the missing man, seeking an order to direct the General Officer Commanding of the 57th Mountain Division to produce Kamal Babu.

On November 27, the High Court had issued a notice to the respondents, asking them to submit a report regarding the missing person. As no report was filed, the court decided to form a committee comprising the district magistrate of Kangpokpi district, the superintendent of police of Kangpokpi district, the superintendent of police of Imphal West, and the commanding officer of the 57th Mountain Division Signal Regiment.

The court has directed the committee to determine whether Kamal Babu was abducted from the army camp or left on his own. The missing man’s family has also been instructed to cooperate with the committee by providing any relevant materials or records.

‘The district magistrate, being the head of the committee, shall serve notice to the petitioner or family members of the petitioner to appear before the committee for enquiry. An enquiry report shall be filed before the High Court on the next hearing on December 11,’ the court stated.

The petition was filed against the state of Manipur, represented by its security advisor, chief secretary, Director General of Police of Manipur Police, the General Officer Commanding of the 57th Mountain Division, the commissioner (Home), the superintendent of police of Imphal West, and the officer in charge of the Sekmai police station.

The petition alleges that Kamal Babu, aged 56, was kidnapped by Kuki militants from the high-security zone of the Leimakhong Army Headquarters compound. It states that he was a supervisor for a firm, M/S Binod Construction, operating inside the Leimakhong Army campus.