Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 18:
A combined team of 12 Maratha Light Infantry troopers and Imphal West police commandos have apprehended two KCP (City Meitei) activists and rescued a Superintending Engineer (SE) of the State's Power Department last evening.
According to information received by the press, the SE (Planning & Design) Ngangom Birjit of Haoreibi Awang Leikai was whisked away by two unidentified persons as soon as he reached home at dusk yesterday after returning from a religious programme.
At Samurou the abductors took the SE on a Honda Activa scooter and headed towards Mayang Imphal Lakshmi Bazar from where the three left the vehicle and continued on foot through a paddy field.
In the meantime, with the police alerting the army unit about Birjit's abduction and the possible route, troops of 12 MLI fanned out and were on foot patrol near Mayang Imphal Telephone Exchange when they observed movement at a nearby paddy-field when night vision equipment (thermal imagery) was used.
With the police commandos encircling the opposite direction and the MLI troops lying in wait, the abductors with the captive in tow reportedly trudged into the dragnet and were overpowered at around 11.45 pm without a single shot being fired and the SE rescued safe and sound at Irong village, further informed an Army source.
The rescued SE has been handed over to the family members through Wangoi AC's MLA Salam Joy this morning with the abductors taken into custody by Wangoi police.
The arrested KCP (City Meitei) activists have been identified as Nongmeikapam Joychandra (37) of mayang Imphal Konchak Mayai Leikai and Laishram Joymangol (24) of Irom Meijrao Mamang Leikai, said police.
One 9 mm pistol with a magazine and five rounds, a detonator, one Chinese hand-grenade, two mobile phone handsets with a charger, two driving license and Rs 1150 have been recovered from the duo's possession.
A statement issued by the PRO IGAR (S) said troops of 12 MLI of 9 Sector under IGAR (S) established mobile vehicle check post at Maijirao area based on specific information regarding abduction of a civilian.
Observing 3-4 persons moving suspiciously and trying to skirt the Company Operating base of Mayang Imphal the troops closed in resulting in the suspects running away but were apprehended after a hot pursuit, the PRO maintained.
While one escaped taking advantage of darkness three individuals were rounded up among whom include the abducted engineer, the PRO adding while confirming the seizure of arms and other items from the two KCP (City Meitei) cadres.