Thank god, Irabanta is alive in 'IM' custody
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 01, 2012 -

Now that the state police claimed to have established the whereabouts of the missing contractor, Irungbam Irabanta after more than 3 months, the worried family members may be able to take a deep sigh of relief.

Quoting a senior police officer of the State Police Department, a local daily has reported that Irabanta is in the custody of NSCN (IM).

While this revelation may have come as a great relief to the worried family members, it has also raised some serious posers on the conduct of both the state police and the Naga rebel group.

A resident of Nongdam Maning LeikaiI, 38-year old Irabanta, who used to supply sand and stone to Ansal Limited in connection with construction work of Maphou Dam, went missing after he left home for Ukhrul along with one MK Winner, who is alleged to have close link with the Naga outfit, in a Maruti Gypsy in the morning of May 27 last.

Along with lodging a complaint with the police on June 8 last, the wife of the missing contractor went on record to assert that the hands of NSCN (IM) is involved in the abduction of her husband, on the basis of the conversation they had on May 28, a day after her husband left home.

Consequently, the State Assembly took up the matter for discussion on July 11 and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh assured that a special police team led by an SP would be pressed into service to locate the whereabouts of the missing contractor and promised to take action if NSCN-IM or any other UG groups were found involved in the abduction.

Understandably, NSCN (IM), which is under ceasefire agreement with the government of India, outrightly denied involvement in the abduction and denounced the allegation as 'a bolt from the blue'.

Nonetheless, from its past record and penchant for going on denial mode first, only to concede later on, there were not many taker of the NSCN (IM) rebuttal, because even if NSCN (IM) was not involved in the abduction as an organization, involvement of some of its 'wayward' cadres could never be ruled out.

Now that state police have claimed that Irabanta is in the custody of NSCN (IM), the public expect the Naga outfit to make its stand clear on the issue.

On the other hand, it is unnerving to think over why the state government and its police department have taken so long to locate the whereabouts of the abducted contractor even after the main accused was arrested and put behind the bars.

Anyway, now that the whereabouts of Irabanta has been located, we expect the state Government and its police department to be more proactive towards ensuring safe release of the abducted man.

Writing to the Government of India to persuade NSCN (IM) to release Irabanta is not enough. Instead, tell the people where is he being held captive, and they would do the rest.

This proposition may sound radical, but it is one of the best options to avoid a repeat of a case like that of Dr Kishan.