Remaining abducted persons freed unharmed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 05 2013:
A few hours after the safe release of two engineers belonging to a Kolkata based private construction company, the remaining two engineers of IFCD and their associates were freed late last night.
Speaking to reporters at his Uripok Polem Leikai residence, Executive Engineer Naorem Surchandra, who was among the abducted persons, said that a village chief and a villager drove the remaining five persons to Imphal in a Gypsy.
He recounted that they were abducted by a group of armed persons from Dolaithabi Ahallup, a few metres away from Dolaithabi barrage, at around 4 pm of August 1 .
The Executive Engineer said that two engineers from Kolkata - Abhijit Sinha and Devjit Sinha - arrived in Imphal at around 1.20 pm on August 1 .
After checking in at Classic Hotel, seven of them - Abhijit, Devjit, Surchandra, SE Nandeibam Karunacharja, contractor Sanayaima and two drivers - went to Dolaithabi barrage in two vehicles.
On their return journey from the work site, they were stopped by armed miscreants at Dolaithabi Ahallup and whisked away on gun point towards Saikul in a Maruti van, he recounted.
After reaching an unknown village, they were held up in a house, he said and added that their confinement was frequently shifted from one house to another.
Saying that their abductors did not give any type of harassment to them Surchandra added that they were even provided with comfortable fooding and lodging facilities.
Although the armed persons never disclosed the name of their organisation, one of the armed persons once told them that the area was dominated by KRA and KLA.
Upon querying on the reason of their detention, the armed persons told them that their group had to talk to the higher authority of IFCD over some issues.
Surchandra further said that they were given prior information before the release of two Kolkata based engineers.
It may be mentioned that the non-local engineers reached Imphal yesterday morning.
Regarding the release of the remaining five persons, Surchandra said, after having dinner at around 6 pm yesterday, they were brought in two jeeps by the armed persons to an unknown location.
After crossing a small stream by foot, they reached a village, from there, the village chief and a villager drove them in his Gypsy jeep to Imphal.
After leaving SE Karunacharja at the gate of his residence, all the remaining four occupants were left at Nagamapal, Surchandra said and added that he reached home at around 12.20 am.
Surchandra said, he could figure out that they passed Sanakeithel of Ukhrul district during their hours long journey to home.
Saying that they were frisked by police commandos at two different villages, Surchandra said that the village chief told them that they had been to somewhere on the advice of an MLA.
On a query regarding visiting work sites without security, Surchandra admitted it was a mistake to go their work site without security escorts.