Manglemba freed, Suresh not yet
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2011:
Volleyball referee and newspaper distributor Chabungbam Manglemba, who had been picked up/abducted by some uniformed persons suspected Army personnel was set freed, though the whereabouts of another person who had been picked up/ abducted along with Manglemba is still not known.
Manglemba was set freed at a place in Koirengei area at around 2.30 am today.
Quoting the statements of Manglemba, one representative of the JAC formed in connection with the incident, said that Manglemba was brought in vehicle blindfolded and set him freed at an open area.
After being set freed, Manglemba was walking in the twilight, when he could recognise the area as Koirengei.
From there, he hired an autorickshaw and reached home.
While in the captivity, abductors, who are suspected to be Army personnel, asked him many questions both in Hindi and Manipuri.
Owing to some physical injuries, Manglemba was taken to RIMS for medical check up.
Now he is resting at home.
However, the whereabouts of Longjam Suresh, who had been abducted along with Manglemba is still not known.
Both Manglemba and Suresh have been reportedly picked up by a group of Hindi speaking unidentified persons in combat dresses and armed with sophisticated weapons from their respective houses in the intervening night of February 18 and 19 .
In addition to road blockade for two days, the JAC formed in protest against the abduction has imposed a 12-hour bandh along Mayai Lambi with effect from 6 am today.
During the course of the bandh today, suspected bandh supporters did not allow any vehicular movement from Samurou to Top Siphai.
One mini truck carrying passengers which was plying in defiance of the bandh call and a Gypsy of the police, which was allegedly escorting the truck from Mayang Imphal side suffered damage when the bandh supporters pelted stones.
The mini truck was heading towards north (Imphal) with the Police Gypsy in front when the bandh supporters launched the attack.
To disperse the attackers, police opened fire three rounds.
Though there is no report of any serious violence, vehicular movement along the Mayai Lambi remained crippled on account of the bandh.