Imphal, December 23: Following the gun fight, KNF (P) cadres detained passenger vehicles at Keithelmanbi coming from Imphal along NH 39 for some hours this afternoon as some of their cadres have been allegedly captured by PLA militants.

The KNF (P) cadres held captive all 33 passengers of an inter-State tourist bus (MN01-1591) belonging to Zet Travels after forcing the vehicle to drive down the Imphal river bed at Keithelmanbi.

The KNF (P) cadres insisted that the passengers would be released only after their captured cadres have been freed.

Moreover, an excursion team of Hundred Flower Higher Secondary School, Pangei was also detained there.

All the passengers, students and teachers were abducted from Bualmang near Koubru Leikha along NH 39. Even as all the passengers including tribals, Muslims and non-Manipuris were set free not long after, 12 people including 6 students were held back by the KNF (P) cadres.

One among the captives who had a mobile phone was allowed to communicate with the family.

The KNF (P) cadres set free the 12 captives only after the PLA released their two captured cadres.

On hearing about the release of the 12 captives, the UCM arranged a vehicle and brought them to Imphal before they were received at Kekrupat.

Speaking to media persons there, UCM president Langamba strongly condemned the act of holding students and innocent civilians captives for confrontation among armed UG groups.

He also asked all concerned not to repeat the despicable communal act of victimising only the Meitei passengers while letting off passengers belonging to other ethnic groups and communities.

In an apparent case related to this incident, three members of UCM general assembly belonging to Kangpokpi area were also abducted, said Langamba while decrying the same communal act.

He also accused the State forces of sitting indifferent even though the incident has potential to snowballed into a major crisis in the State.

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