Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 08 2009:
All the 12 labourers captured by some armed persons at near a remote village of Ukhrul district have been released in batches in the past 48 hours.
An armed group reportedly formed after defection from the NSCN-IM organisation is informed to be behind the abduction of 14 labourers near a remote Ukhrul district village, close to the Indo-Myanmar border.
The labourers engaged in timber trade in illegal manner were taken captive by the armed group from inside Myanmar zone and were held for ransom, police sources said.
Even though no formal case on the incident has been registered, police strongly advised the people particularly those settled along the international boundary against venturing into the jungles.
The labourers, some of whom from the district were abducted from inside Myanmar jungles, situated about 8 kilometres from Border pillars No.125, 126 and 127 yesterday morning, confirmed the sources.
The captors said to comprise of armed cadres split from NSCN-IM and led by one Wishful are the main suspects behind the abduction, which the sources maintained is a fallout of non-compliance to monetary demands served by the group to three local contractors.
However, after a mutual agreement including the contractors coughing up certain amount of the demanded sum the labourers were set at liberty in batches of nine late last night with three more coming out of the jungle this morning, the sources disclosed and cited protocol constraints for the State police not able to promptly swing into rescue operations.
"It is not possible legally to enter inside Myanmar and conduct operation to rescue the labourers," conceded a police official on condition of anonymity while opining that intervention of central authorities is called for to ensure the Myanmarese counter parts take necessary steps.
He also contended that requisite steps have been taken up to convey the matter to the centre.
informed sources also claimed that the abductors confined the labourers at Ngachan, a remote village in Myanmar about 30 Kms from the border and that negotiations were made through local villagers in securing release of the captives.