Imphal Aug 4 MNS UNA : Kidnappers Sunday released two officials of the Kolkata based company even though they further detained five other persons including two engineers of state irrigation and flood control department (IFCD).
The two officials of the Kolkata based RN Sinha Co Ltd, Debajit Sinha and Abhijit Sinha were kidnapped with SE N Karucharya, EE Naorem Surchandra Singh and a local contractor along with the drivers of two vehicles they were travelling on August 1 last from their way back from inspecting progress work of Dolaithabi earth dam in the interior Imphal East district.
According to the released officials, the kidnappers released them today early morning, around 4.30 am at an undisclosed hill area, from where they were asked to follow a footpath towards Sagolmang .
They reached Sagolmang after about one and a half hour of trekking on the hilly terrain, said the two officers of RN Sinha Co Ltd engaged in the construction of Dalaithabi earth dam on the Iril river in the interior Imphal East district.
However, the other five persons including the SE and EE of IFCD and a contractor were still in the captivity of the kidnappers.
There were not ill treated by the kidnappers . Further no condition was set while setting them free from their captivity, the officials who made an appeal to the kidnappers for unharmed release of the remaining persons.
Even though they were in the captivity of the kidnappers for the last three days, they had no idea about the kidnappers. They (kidnappers) refused to disclose to which militant group they belonged to or for what reason they were taking hostage, the company officials said.
Meanwhile, confusion surrounded regarding the group responsible for the kidnapping of the IFCD officials when another Kuki based militant group came up with the claim that the officials were in their custody and reportedly demanded Rs 5 lakh for safe and unharmed release.
A day after the seven persons were kidnapped, a statement of the People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) signed by signed its finance cum information secretary Ayub Ansar has claimed that the seven persons were in their custody, alleging that they held hostage them after the EE Surchandra failed to appear before them despite repeated “summon”.
Police also suspect a faction of Kuki National Front (KNF) behind the kidnapping of the IFCD officials On the other hand, police and security force have intensified manhunt operation in places where the kidnapper could have held hostage the remaining five persons.
The manhunt operation was reportedly launched at some villages in the hill areas nearby Sagolmang area adjoining with Saikul area of Senapati district.
Meanwhile, womenfolk of Thangmeiband area continued to stage sit-in-protest against the kidnapping the IFCD engineers and drivers by the unknown militants at Thangmeiband Lilashing Khongnangkhong.
The protest was jointly staged by Thangmeiband Improvement Club and Naharup Pangong Makhong demanding unconditional release of the kidnapped persons.
Terming the kidnapping of people for ransom as an act of uncivilized people, they appealed not to repeat such incident again. Various placards denouncing the kidnapping were displayed during the protest.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kidnappers-release-two-company-officials/