Abductions mar Intl Rights Protection day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 10 2008: A series of abduction cases apparently to demand ransom in the past 48 hours undermined the observance of International Human Rights day today.

As preparations were underway to observe the day so as to highlight the ever burgeoning cases of human rights violation in this insurgency scarred State, gunmen said to be activists of an armed group took into custody the village chief of Thayong last night followed by a similar incident of ab-duction of two RIMS officials earlier in the evening.

nother case of abduction took place yesterday with unidentified persons whisking away one Pungai Hungyo, Secretary of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram, Chingmeirong from his office. A resident of Tangkhul Avenue, Pungai is an elderly person and his abduction and possible exposure to the chill of winter season is an inhumane act, said a release of Tangkhul Students' union Imphal (Tangkhul Katamnao Long Imphal) while appealing to all concerned to immediately release Pungai.

Atrocities exposed by the bruised buttock of a victim

The inhumane and mindless action of the abductors with the sole motive to extract money is all the more disgusting, the Union expressed. Moreover, it is reported that three officials of Khadi and Village Industries were whisked away by armed persons from a Churachandpur district location today.

Regarding the abduction of the two officials, a statement issued today by the Media Advisor, RIMS said a complaint lodged with the police enlisted the missing duo as Assistant Engineer Ng Robindro of Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai and SO Y Sujeet from Sega Road.

The complaint mentioned of involvement of KCP (Ibungo Ngangom) group activists in the abduction of the two from within the RIMS complex yesterday afternoon.

With the abductors reportedly setting a deadline of December 12 to cough up Rs 3 crore to secure release of the duo an emergency meeting of RIMs employees was held today during which 'it was resolved that it is not possible to pay the ransom', the Media Advisor maintained.

Inspite of the meeting further cautioning that agitation would be launched in case both are not freed within 6 pm tomorrow the abductors warned of extreme action (killing) against the two if the ransom amount is not paid by December 12, it added.

On the otherhand, the Thayong village chief identified as Rengneithang Kom (55) s/o (L) K Khupneiring was abducted last night with his release secured this afternoon after a sum of Rs 80,000 pooled by the villagers was handed over to the captor/s.according to Rengneithang, about 15 persons clad in combat uniform and wielding sophisticated weapons whisked away the village chief from his house at around 9 pm.

The captors reportedly identified themselves as members of a Kuki National Front (KNF) group and escorted Rengneithang to a hillock near Thayong village, which is located under Senapati district but falls within the jurisdiction of Lamlai police station and assembly constituency.

The captive, whose hands were tied on the front side, along with his abductors stayed the night atop the hillock and kept themselves warm in the chilly night with blankets and other warm clothes collected by representatives of Thayong village.

Recounting his nightmarish experience in the custody of the captors, the village chief said at daybreak he was blindfolded and beaten up, and asked whether activists of the Kom rem People's Army (KRPA) stayed at his house.

Upon responding that about 2/3 days back some KRPA members did show up at his place but have already left, the captors assaulted Rengneithang accusing him of lying besides charging him to be a KRPA member.

The abductors also accused Rengneithang of not attending a specific meeting of village chiefs and imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh which was negotiated to Rs 80,000, he detailed while adding that the captors paid back Rs 500 to the village representatives to purchase refreshment items.

Apart from the villagers complying to insistence to prepare/provide the morning meal the abductors also ordered chicken dish with the meat-size of their choice (large), further said the village chief.

Claiming themselves as the KNF members, the abductors reminded Rengneithang of a similar demand (Rs 1 lakh) being imposed against his predecessor.

Rengneithang had been the village chief for about a month and half.

Meanwhile, some villagers assuming that the armed persons might have reached Thayong village from the direction of Saichang village alleged that the miscreants consumed eatables amounting to about Rs 300 from a village shop apart from impounding a Nokia (6300) mobile charger.

Some of the villagers who took the meal this morning were told by the abductors of the 32 AR post located at the nearby Andro Laikot village aware of presence of the KNF activists.

They were also warned to communicate presence of other UGs in the area to avoid undesired consequences.

On the other hand, the Komrem Union Manipur taking serious note of the abduction desired that Kuki armed groups honour other community and ensure such an incident do not recur in the future.

With apparent reference to a number of Kuki armed groups having signed the suspension of operation with both the Central and State Government, information and publicity secretary of (KRUM) LT Khan expressed that Kuki armed activists resorting to abduction for ransom and imposing monetary demand tantamount to the Government authorising such elements to torment smaller tribes such as the Komrem community.