Imphal, January 06 2010: Kidnappers of a Section Officer of Manipur government has set deadline tomorrow (January 7) to meet their demand of Rs 85 lakh as ransom for safe release of the officer even as a pradhan of a gram panchayat in Bishnupur district escaped from the captivity of his kidnappers.

Manisana Singh, a section officer (SO) of the state Minor Irrigation Department was kidnapped by suspected activists of the People United Liberation Front (PULF)-MI Khan group on his way home from office on January 4 last for a ransom of Rs 85 lakh from the office he is working in.

Family members are apprehensive of untoward incident on the SO when kidnappers set a deadline for tomorrow to pay the ransom amount or face the consequence, said employees of the MI office today.

Employees staged a sit-in protest to register a strong protest against the kidnapping of their colleague for ransom and demanding unconditional safe release of the SO.

Lamenting kidnapping people for ransom, employees said the culture of ransom demand should be whiped out.

"Stop indulging in kidnapping officers for ransom, allow us to discharge out duty freely and serve the people, we want to work in a peaceful environment," placards displayed at the protest side read.

The protest commenced from around 10 am and went on till 4 pm.

Meanwhile, a pradhan of a gram panchayat in Bishnupur district of Manipur escaped from the captivity of his kidnapper and reported to the police station at Churachandpur district headquarters, police said Wednesday.

Lamabam Tomchou, pradhan of the Tera Khongsangbi Gram Panchayat was kidnapped by suspected activists of Kangleipak Communists Party (KCP)-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) group from his own house on the night of January 3 last in connection with monetary demand.

He escaped from the captivity of the abductor last night and reported to the Churachandpur police station at about 7 pm.

He has been handed over to Moirang police station of Bishnupur district, police here said.

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