Abducted boys released
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, April 26 2012:
The three boys from Sairemkhul of Manipur who had been allegedly recruited as child soldiers on April 7 believed to be by an underground outfit have been brought home today after being released at Moreh, on the Indo-Myanmar border.
The three boys were reportedly released on April 22 at Moreh town and brought to Imphal on the same day.
They have been staying at the office of Women Action for Development (WAD) since then, being apprehensive to return to their village.
The three boys identified as Chanam Ajoynao @ Shantikumar (14) s/o Ch.
Manglemjao, Sapam Suranjoy @ Aboy (15) s/o S.Naoba and Soraisam Naothoibi @ Sanjoy (15) s/o S.Samungou interacted with media persons at their homes and elaborated on their journey and experience.
|
They had reportedly gone on an autorickshaw from Kanchikhul to Moirang Hanuba on April 7 around noon with one Soraisam Ingo (23) s/o S.Kesho, where they were met by one unknown person who took them to an unknown location in Imphal and stayed 2 nights at the place.
The next day they left for Moreh and stayed one night there, after which they went to a camp of the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) where they stayed for one week, the boys narrated.
The parents of the three boys were informed by Ingo on April 22 that the boys will be released at Moreh town, and the parents immediately left for Moreh on the same day and brought the three boys to Imphal.
But the boys did not want to return to their village immediately as they were still traumatized by the journey and experience.
So the parents contacted the office of WAD who contacted the child welfare of the social welfare department.
But as it was a Sunday and the next day was Khongjom Day (holiday) the parents could only submit an application to the director of the department.
Taking the situation into consideration, the parents decided to leave the three boys in the custody of WAD where they were given counseling for the trauma and tension they had undergone in the last few weeks, and finally brought home today.