State police still unable to rescue abducted officials
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 03 2013 : Despite massive operations launched, police have not been able to locate the whereabouts of the seven persons including four engineers, who have been reportedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants while they were returning after inspecting Dolaithabi Project in Imphal East on August 1 evening.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam told Hueiyen Lanpao that rescue operations are going on in full swing.

The outfit involved in abduction is yet to be established, and so newspaper reports mentioning names of some underground outfits in this case are mere rumours, he clarified.

Gaikhangam further said that the incident could have been prevented if the officials gave prior information about their inspection programme at Dolaithabi to the police.

Moreover, the police are finding difficulty to trace the whereabouts of the abducted persons due to such communication gap.

State police still unable to rescue abducted officials

Deputy Chief Minister also assured that strict action would be taken if any Suspension of Operation (SoO) signatory Kuki outfits were found involved in the abduction.

All Police Stations are in constant communication with one another while carrying out the rescue operations.

However, Army and Paramilitary forces are not currently involved in the operations, Gaikhangam added.

Further, he stated that West Bengal Government as well as family members of abducted Kolkata-based engineers namely Abhijit Sinha and Debjit Sinha have not made any complaint to the State Government.

The abducted persons included Superintending Engineer of IFCD N Karunacharya (50) of Thangmeiband Lilashing Khongnangkhong; Executive Engineer of IFCD Naorem Surchandra (50) of Uripok Polem Leikai; Contractor Sanayaima Sharma of Nagamapal Singjubung; drivers Sarat of Lalambung and Sanayaima of Naharup, and engineers of the Kolkata-based RN Sinha and Co Limited Abhijit Sinha and Debjit Sinha.

Chief Engineer of IFCD Th Indramani told Hueiyen Lanpao that works are being done on war-footing to complete the Dolaithabi Project within a short time.

The engineers of IFCD often inspect the work site without any security personnel.

The Department has not received any monetary demand regarding the project, he maintained.

The engineers from Kolkata left for Dolaithabi as soon as they arrived at Classic Hotel.

The inspection team went to the project site in two Gypsies.

The mobile phones of the officials remained switched off after they were abducted by the militants, Indramani stated.

Meanwhile, local clubs and family members of abducted persons held sit-ins appealing for their safe release as soon as possible.

Citizen Welfare Forum (CWF) has also appealed to concerned individual/group to release the abducted officials on humanitarian ground.