Imphal, December 12: Akoijam Sarat, Assistant Engineer in the Imphal East Division of PHED, needs no further introduction.

He was among the three officials released by the KLA after 33 days of captivity on December 11.Here he shares, his experience and what went through his mind while in custody to our Staff Reporter L Shamungou...

I was the team leader which was deputed to inspect a water supply scheme taken up at Keithelmanbi on November 8.The most gladdening news that we received while in custody was when we were told that a team of media persons would be coming to meet us as that was a positive signal that perhaps we were going to be released soon and believe me, waiting for the press team to turn up seemed like ages.

The first day, November 8, when we were taken captives by the KLA was like a nightmare.

We didn't what was going to happen, but as days passed we became more hopeful.

The KLA cadres treated us well and gave us whatever we wanted to eat.

There was no restriction on what we wanted to eat, whether it was pork or chicken.

However despite the gastronomic delights our mind was never free from the tension of what would happen next.

We spent the 33 days of our captivity in conversation and at times light banters with the boys who were kept on sentry duty to guard us.

Lunch was an early affair with all of us taking our food at about 9/9.30 am everyday while dinner was even earlier anytime between 2.30 and 3 pm.

The food was however never cooked at the place where we stayed but was brought from some place else.

We spent the nights in the jungle in make shift camps.

Blankets made of hay were provided to us for the night.

As the nights were bitterly cold in the jungles, sound sleep was something which escaped us.

As we did not really know who to complain about the bad conditions of the sleeping tents, we kept quiet and there were times when we suffered from indigestion.

As we wanted to talk to our family members, the cadres took us atop a hill which took about one and half, hour to reach.

From there we could contact our families on a WLL telephone.

We were allowed to speak to our family three, times each.

As I am a smoker, the KLA cadres took the trouble of providing me my preferred brand during my days in their custody.

We occasionally heard that negotiators were in touch with the KLA to secure our release, but the most pleasing information we received was when we were told that a group of media persons will be coming to meet us.

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