Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 23 2010:
Locals and students of Yourabung area today staged a protest rally in denunciation of the abduction of Yumnam Manaoba, a TDC IIIrd year student of Biramangol College and son of Yumnam Megha, Secretary of CPI Lamlai Local Council.
The protest rally was culminated in a public meeting in which Health Minister Ph Parijat, MSF Vice-President Ng Milan, KSA General Secretary Th Premananda, DESAM General Secretary Moirangthem Angamba Meitei, MSC/AIYF President Sh Purnimashi and Nupi Marup Secretary Puinabati raised strong voice were present.
According to Manaoba's father Megha, an UG group has demanded a ransom of Rs 2 crores for the safe release of his son.
They also threatened on phone to kill Manaoba for revealing the information to the media and civil society organisations.
Megha said that he did not receive any monetary demand from the outfit before his son's abduction.
He revealed that there is however demand of Rs 20 crores to Minister Parijat.
It can be presumed that as the group could not take up any action against the Minister, they tried to abduct Megha, who is the General Secretary of CPI Lamlai Local Council.
On July 19 at around 10:30 pm, around six unknown persons came at their house and enquired about Megha.
As he was not in his house, his youngest son Manaoba was forcibly taken away by the unknown persons.
Strongly condemning the abduction of the young student for ransom, today's meeting organised under the banner of JAC Against the Kidnapping of Y Manaoba, Yourabung resolved to take up various forms of agitation with the help of student bodies and civil society organisations if Manaoba is not released safe by July 25 .
The meeting also decided to press the Government to take up immediate step so that the student is released at the earliest.
Speaking at the meeting Minister Ph Parijat asked the concerned group why an innocent student has been abducted for ransom.
Maintaining that the concerned group must follow their rules and regulations the Minister asserted that they must not ignore their philosophy.
Saying that any action against a family must be done after thorough investigation, Parijat urged the concerned to release Manaoba at the earliest.
The JAC constituted against Manaoba's abduction also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi demanding swift action to rescue the student.
The memorandum demanded for pressing into action of police commandos and Assam Rifles in all the suspected areas.
It also demanded for immediate opening of a commando out post at Lamlai.
The representation also pressed for deployment of VDFs in every village of Lamlai A/C to control frequent threat, extortion and abduction.
Meanwhile, Pungdongbam Women Development Society also staged a sit-in-protest demanding safe release of Manaoba at Pungdongbam Lamkhai today.
The women's body also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister pressing similar demand.