Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, November 07:
With the fate of the kidnapped director of education (s) A Shamungou, still unknown, voices are being raised from different quarters calling for his safe release.
More than 300 employees of the directorate of education (s) began an indefinite sit-in protest at the directorate office complex today seeking Shamungou's unconditional release.
The employees also issued a strong appeal for Shamungou's safe and immediate release, and urged he should be forgiven whatever faults he might have committed.
Students of the CC Hr Sec School, Tamphasana Girls' Hr Sec School, Ram Lal Paul Hr Sec School and Ibotonsana Girls' Hr Sec School, along with members of the Veteran Athletics Association of Manipur also staged a sit-in-protest against Shamungou's kidnapping today in front of the Johnstone Hr Sec School today.
A number of organizations have also called for Shamungou's safe release.
The underground KYKL(O) had in a statement released a few days back, acknowledged that Shamungou was in its custody, and stated that he would be punished for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the education department.
Speaking to IFP, a spokesperson of education directorate employees said that to their knowledge, before the kidnapping, there were no demands or communications received from any underground group.
He added that they had no knowledge of why he was kidnapped.
The spokesman added that functioning of the directorate of education has been completely paralyzed following Shamungou's kidnapping by KYKL(O) cadres on October 27.The employees have been a facing a lot of problems and difficulties, and there is no hope of getting their salaries unless he turns up soon, he added.
It may be mentioned that Shamungou was abducted along with four colleagues, K Omnath, senior research, officer, Sh Bimolchand, joint director, O Kuber, head clerk, and E Dhananjoy, driver from near the Manipur Polo and Horse Riding Association office at Lamphelpat at around 11:00 am on October 27 by three young men armed with handguns.
The five men were taken in a white Maruti van missing its license plates upto Pourabi, where the other four were released at around 7:00 pm.