Imphal, February 23: Konsam Tomba Singh, a former MLA from Khundrakpam AC and his driver, who were reportedly abducted by activists of the UKLF have been rescued by a Thoubal police team after the duo escaped from their captors' this evening.

According to the ex-MLA whom the armed group abducted for a ransom amount of Rs 30 lakh, he and his driver Nandeibam Ito were heading to oversee a contract work at Kwatha area on February 20 morning but were waylaid and whisked away from Pallel by three unidentified youths who came in a motorbike.

After jumping into the Maruti Gypsy Tomba was riding the captors drove towards Chandel district headquarters and upon reaching Wangpran village the abductors threatened to eliminate them in case the ransom amount is not paid.

A visibly weary Tomba detailed to reporters this evening that Ito's initial attempt to escape was detected by a UKLF cadre on guard and a scuffle broke out with the MLA also joining.

Even though Ito managed to flee from the UKLF custody along with a small arm, Tomba was held and shifted to another hideout with his eyes blindfolded and beaten up, the former legislator narrated.

Upon reaching Thamnapokpi, where he was threatened by the armed men to eliminate him charging him of helping Ito escape a brief confrontation also ensued with the villagers who sympathised with Tomba's condition.

From Thamnapokpi, K tomba was taken towards a nearby hill range on February 21 night and taking advantage of the cadres, except one, falling into deep slumber ran for his life and reached a village of Anal tribe.

With the Anal villagers' help telephonic contact was established with one of his friends who relayed the information to police.

The Thoubal police team that rescued the former MLA was reportedly led by the SP Th Radheshyam.

On the otherhand, the driver who escaped before the MLA the previous night took shelter at kakching police station.According to family source, the captors were paid Rs 2 lakh in exchange for Tomba and his driver which the armed activists later spurned insisting that the amount paid was for the lost arm.

The captors, however, raised the ransom amount to Rs 4 lakh but could not lay their hands on the booty as the ex-MLA escaped.

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