Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 20:
In protest against the abduction of three engineers of the Public Health Engineering Department by the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) for ransom of Rs 1crore and demanding immediate release of the captives, employees of the PHE Department together with engineer of Works Department launched a protest sitting at Khuyathong today.
Speaking to reporters there, PHED SE Ng Shyamkumar informed that the three engineers were abducted from near Napetpalli on their return journey from Lamlai area on October 12.They were returning back after inspecting development works and welfare schemes being taken up by the Department in Nongren, Nongdam and Pungdongbam.
The abductors have demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom, he disclosed.
There was no prior intimation for monetary demand from the abducted officials��EE L Ibomcha, AE O Meino and SO N Upendro, Shyamkumar said.
Even as the PHE Minister, MLA of Saikul A/C and Government officials are making efforts to affect the release of the abducted engineers, there has been no breakthrough so far.
Stating that the protest sitting will continue until the abducted engineers are released, Shyamkumar hinted that the PHED employees may go on to stop supply of drinking water to public if their colleagues are not released safely at the earliest.
During the protest sitting which began at 10 am and continued till 4 pm, the protesters used placards which read as �Don�t abduct PHED engineers�, �Release innocent engineers�, �No Kidnapping for ransom� etc.