Police rescues abducted village chief
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06 2019:
Following an intense operation, police today rescued a village chief who was abducted by some unknown armed men from a brick field owned by him in Kuki-Chin-Mizo dominated Churachandpur district yesterday morning.
Lalboi Lhungdim (42), chief of Dampi village, was kidnapped by the miscreants from his brick field located near Saihenjang village in the morning at around 8, locals said and added that the abductors also thrashed him and torched his jeep.
"The victim (Lhungdim) was rescued safely from Nepali Basti near Genmol village in Churachandpur today afternoon", the Churachandpur SP, Amrita Sinha briefed media persons today evening.
His rescue followed a continued and tireless operation launched by Churachandpur district police in coordination with 25 Assam Rifles troops and other organisations since police received the information of his abduction on Friday morning, added the SP.
She said that search operations were carried out the entire night and some telltale signs were discovered and the abductors were trapped in a huge area the security forces had cordoned off.
Today, at 9 am, additional teams consisting of 10 personnel each of Churachandpur district police were mobilised and a search operation was planned from Teisang area to find the abductors, she said, adding that the victim was finally found at around 2 pm near Nepali Basti.
"The kidnappers are on the run after leaving behind the individual police security teams are continuing to track them" Amrita said and added that the police are investigating to ascertain the group responsible for the abduction.
The victim has been safely handed over to his family after conducting a health check up, added the lady SP.
Though the police are probing to establish the motive behind his abduction, sources suspect that it was done for ransom.
Before Lhungdim's rescue, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Churachandpur district, had condemned his abduction and appealed to the abductors to release him at the earliest.
He was abducted from his brick kiln about 8 Kms from Churachandpur police station by a group of armed men clad in camouflage dress and carrying automatic weapons, the student body said in a statement.
The abductors also reportedly thrashed Lhungdim badly before he was kidnapped from the spot, the statement added.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction and following the incident, security has been beefed up at strategic areas of the district.