Imphal, July 25: Vigilant public of Heikak Keibi leikai of Mapan rescued a 13 year old child from the hands of four kidnappers today and after roundly thrashing them, handed them over to Imphal East police today.

The four kidnappers, have been identified as Ningombam Nanao alias Naoba (18) s/o Inaocha, Huidrom Herojit (25) s/o H Rojen, Huidrom Nahen (25) s/o Ibomcha and Huidrom Santi alias Joychandra s/o Imochao All four are from Huiprom Mayai Leikai under Lamlai police station.

The rescued child is identified as Maibam Dhanachandra (13) of Uyummpok Happy Valley and a Class VIII student at Keibi High School.

According to the child, Dhanachandra, he was going to Happy VaIley ground to play cricket today at about 4.30 pm, when the four persons came in Maruti van and invited him to join them for a ride and he boarded the vehicle.

"When I asked where we are were going, the four guys did not say anything but, 'sped up the vehicle," said the child.

Narrating his tales, the child said that as repeated queries did not evoke any positive response, Dhanaachandra said that he 'sudddenly remembered the stories of children being kidnapped and he realised that he was going to be kidnapped.

As the van approached Keibi Heikak Mapan, he saw a large crowd of people blocking the road, said the child choking with tears.

Interacting with the media the people of Keibi Heikak said that they reeceived an information from Uyumpok that one child had been kidnapped and whisked away putting them on the alert and they managed to rescue the child and capture the four kidnappers.

The registration number of the van used the kidnap attempt is given as MN04 1515 and is in the name of one Huidrom Brojen from Huidrom Mayai Leikai and elder brother of Nahen, diirectly involved in the kidnap bid.

Incensed over the atttempted kidnapping the people of Keibi attacked the van and after breaking its glasses turned it upside down.

As per the statement of Ningombam Nanao alias Naoba, who is among the four kidnappers, he works for the UNLF but was innvolved in the kidnapping act at the instructions of one DoIIar of the KYKL.

Later speaking to the media, SP of Imphal East Th Radheshyam said that folllowing the putting up of the hotline, the public of Keibi informed Imphal East police that four kidnappers were in their custody.

On immediate receipt of the report, police, personnel of 39 Assam Rifles and 115 BSF rushed to the spot, said the SP.

The SP said that Ninngombam Nanao alias Naoba is the king pin of the four member kidnapping team.

Protest demonstrations all over: Sit-in-protest demonstrations continued to be staged at different place decrying the current trend of kidnapping young children for recruitment as child solldiers by militants.

Protest demonstrations were organised at TakheeIlambam Leikai Youth Club ground by Takhellambam Leikai Meira Paibi Lup, at the foot bridge of Ningomthongjao by Ningomthongjao Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, at Khundrakpam Makha Leikai by Khundrakpam Chao khat Thourang Nupi Marup, at Laipham Khunou by Apunba Nupi Lup (Lairikyengbam Leikai), in front of the gate of Naorem Birahari College (Khundrakpam) by the college students and teachers and infront of MEELAL office near Imphal Municiipal Council by MEELAL members.

Students and teachers of North East English School (Khurai Tinsid, ROad) Sacred Heart School (Yairipok), Memorial Model Academy (Yairipok), Azad High School (Yairipok), Anntique School (Yairipok) and Sangai Public School (Yairipok) and Pari Imom Sindam Sang (Pangei) also staged similar demonstraation in front of their respective school gates.

According to a statement issued by publicity and information secretary of, AMSU Puyam Bikash, students and teachers of around 80 schools in Thoubal also staged protest demonstration in places of the district decrying recruitment of child soldiers and demanding release of all the kidnapped children at once.