Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21 2009:
Along with staging Wakat Meephams in protest against the abduction of one Ningthoujam Chaoba of Yourbung Maning Leikai, who is an AEO in Tribal Development Department, a 48-hour bandh has been called along Imphal-Ukhrul road with effect from 6 am of October 23 .
Chaoba has been reportedly abducted by some unidentified armed persons from his house on the night of October 14.Even after eight days, the whereabouts of the abducted AEO are not known.
His wife Angoubi tried to stop the armed abductors from taking away her husband and insisting that she would also come along with her husband, Angoubi had followed till Pungdongbam Lamkhai.
But she was forced to return by the armed abductors.
According to family members, the armed abductors did not reveal the identity of the group responsible but have clarified over the telephone that the abduction is not related to any crime committed by Chaoba nor with any monetary demand served to him.
The armed abductors, however, alleged that there are many discrepancies in the functioning of the TD Department and asked the family members to facilitate talks with some responsible officials of the Department.
Held under the JAC Against the Kidnapping of N Chaoba, the protest demonstrations were staged at Itam Nungoi and Yourbung Maning Leikai where a large number of womenfolk participated and called for safe release of Chaoba.
Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration at Yourbung Maning Leikai, Angoubi, wife of abducted Chaoba, appealed to the armed abductors to identity the group responsible for the abduction.
She also called upon the Department to bring about any understanding with the armed abductors so that her husband could return home safely.
JAC convenor Shijagurumayum Padma explained that the decision of imposing 48-hour bandh along Imphal Ukhrul Road with effect from 6 am of October 23 has been taken as the Department has not taken up any step to hold talks with the abductors inspite of having brought the matter to the knowledge of the Minister concerned and the Chief Minister.
Appealing to the people to extend their co-operation during the bandh, the convenor further informed that the JAC is prepared to launch other for of intense agitations if Chaoba is not released at the earliest possible.