Recruiting kids kicks up a ruckus
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 04, 2010:
High tension prevailed at Awang Khunou area under Patsoi police station after locals rose in unison against an alleged handing over of two young boys to an under-ground group.
The boys, who were lured away from their respective homes under the pretext of playing a football match, are identified as Khumukcham Sunilkumar (13) s/o Kh Nabachandra of Awang Khunou Ward No IV and Khoisnam Jupiter (13) s/o Kh Binoy of Awang Khunou WN VII.
both are informed to be class VIII standard students of Church of God KHI English School, Awang Khunou.
according to some infuriated locals, a cousin brother of Kh Sunilkumar took away the boys at around 3 pm yesterday and returned home today with both the youngsters claiming that they escaped from the custody of a UG group.
Sunilkumar disclosed to mediapersons that he and Jupiter, after being called out from their homes by one Khumukcham Roshan for a football match, were taken upto Awang Khunou Lamkhai (junction) yesterday.
After boarding an auto-rickshaw with an unidentified occupant in the passenger carrier, roshan went away with the assurance that Sunilkumar and Jupiter would be provided mobile phone handsets and computers, recounted Sunilkumar who also added that after reaching Wahengbam Leikai parking they were shifted to a Maruti car already waiting there.
After the car headed to the eastern direction from Wahengbam Leikai the boys were reportedly brought to an undisclosed location where there were many gun-totting unidentified persons who allegedly warned of dire consequences in case Sunilkumar and Jupiter try to escape.
Sunilkumar further contended that after detaining them for the night with the armed persons around he and Jupiter were asked to purchase some eatables this morning as the armed persons had a meeting today.
on their way to purchase the eatables, the boys claimed to have came across a passenger bus which they stopped and boarded upto Imphal.
After reaching Wahengbam Leikai the boys boarded an autorickshaw and narrated their experience to the family elders, who subsequently canvassed support of the locals resulting to an emergency meeting held today at the Lainingthou Puthiba ground.
While the meeting was on a police team arrived and took away Jupiter and Roshan for questioning only to return after a shortwhile and take away Sunilkumar for the same purpose.
With the meeting ending inconclusively, the locals headed for Roshan's house and set it ablaze holding the individual responsible for the entire episode.
Roshan's house, where local brew is also allegedly sold, was saved from total devastation due to arrival of police and fire brigade personnel.
Roshan's mother has also been taken into custody by the police.