IMPHAL: Top militant leader Thokchom Nando , arrested on charges of murdering a former minister's daughter, on Tuesday escaped from a hospital security ward where he was undergoing treatment.Nando (34) was found missing from the male ortho ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) here on Tuesday morning. Police rushed to the hospital and launched a search around the area. The state government has declared him a 'wanted' man and announced a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh to any individual who can provide information leading to his arrest.The chief of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party - Mangal/Nando faction had been in jail since 2003. He was arrested for many criminal cases - including the high-profile abduction and murder of eight-year-old Lungnila Elizabeth, daughter of former minister Francis Ngajokpa. Her body was found disposed in a gunny bag at an isolated area here. The case was handed over to CBI after state-wide protests.Last year, he was admitted to JNIMS after complaining of back-ache and underwent a surgery, hospital sources said. Three cops from the Imphal East reserve police force and four jail security personnel had been guarding him at the hospital. A case has been registered by the Porompat police station and an investigation has been initiated to ascertain lapses on part of the security personnel.In 2008, an NSA detainee had escaped from the same hospital. Three cops, including an officer, were suspended.

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