Imphal, December 29 2008: NOTED HUMAN rights activist and president of Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF), Sapamcha Kangleipal has escaped from the custody of the Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) hospital security ward, Porompat in Imphal East last night where he was admitted on July 21 last for medical reason.

Sapamcha Kangleipal, president of the MAFYF was arrested on May 7 from the Manipur Press Club, Imphal and detained at the Sajiwa Central jail in Imphal East under the National Security Act (NSA) on alleged charge of sedition two days before.

He has been charged under 124A IPC, Section (9) of Punjab Security Act, 1953 and Section 8 (b) of Assam Maintenance of Public Order.

The district magistrate, Cheirap Court, Uripok in Imphal West had given the detention order of Kangkeipal under NSA on May 13 .

Talking to the press, a police source informed that Kangleipal made his escape through the window of the room, Room No.2 early Monday where he was admitted with two other detainees for medical reasons, by cutting off the iron bars with an iron saw.

A one foot long iron bar along with the iron saw found in the room when a police havildar, as usual, opened the room at 5 O'clock in the morning and found Kangleipal missing, informed the source adding that it was only then when they found out that Kangleipal had escaped from the custody.

However, reasoning on why none had seen the president of the MAFYF escape, the police source observed that as the window was on the eastern side and the bed placed in the north-south direction, the mosquito net must have prevented by-passers from seeing Kangleipal making the escape.

What is more interesting is of the fact that two of his room mates, Yahiya Khan of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and Semriyo of the Naga People's Conference of Manipur (NPCM), both detainees under NSA did not even know when the president of the youth leader escaped, informed the police source.

The police source also informed that ten prisoners were admitted at the JN hospital on medical reasons which included nine detainees under NSA and an under trial prisoner.

The ten which includes two women are from PREPAK, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kangleipak Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People's United Liberation Front (PULF) and NPCM, added the police source.

Meanwhile, informing of the security set up at the hospital, the police source conveyed that the hospital was guarded by personnel of the 6th MR who were headed by two Jamandar officers and four Halvildars besides 16 (sixteen) soldiers.

However, as for the internal duties such as opening and closing of wards were done by the Manipur Police who were led by a sub-inspector, added the police source.

Hearing of the escape of the youth president, Superintendent of Imphal East police, Th Radheshyam, Inspector General�Law and Order 1 (IG-LO1), M Karnajit, IPS, Deputy Commissioner, Thamkeshore visited the hospital for inspection.

Talking to the press, the DIG (LO1) assured that the police would do what it takes to investigate into the matter very carefully.

Massive manhunt was launched to arrest him at Kangleipal's residence at Chalou villager under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East district and in the vicinity of the village and other possible hideouts by the police.

Last night, as soon as the news reached the police, the Imphal East District police conducted search operation in and around the JN Hospital complex and surrounding areas.

The hospital is located only a few meters away on the north of the district police headquarter.

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