Abduction victims write to UNC, seek support
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 31 2024:
In a distressing incident, two individuals from the Naga community, who were abducted and thrashed by some miscreants on January 29 before being rescued by cadres of an insurgent group, wrote to the Working Committee of the United Naga Council (UNC) seeking intervention.
The victims, who identified themselves as Giangjilung Rongmei and Jeanguanglung Malangmei, recounted the experience, stating that on January 29 around 5 pm, they were forcibly abducted at gunpoint from the Moirang Oil Pump by about six armed persons.
Blindfolded and taken to an undisclosed location, later learnt to be Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, they were accused of being Kukis and subjected to physical assault despite disclosing their identity and furnishing Aadhaar Cards.
The two victims claimed that the armed miscreants opened fire, issued threats, and attempted to coerce confessions of affiliation with the Kuki community.
Fortunately, the victims said, they were rescued by cadres of the insurgent group from Ningthoukhong Kha-Khunou and safely brought to Imphal, where they were released around 9 pm.
The victims, who had travelled from Khoupum to Moirang, described their purpose as towing a Tata Euro Truck that developed technical snag.
They stayed the night in a Meetei friend's house, had some minor repairing of their Shaktiman truck the next day before leaving.
They were abducted by the armed miscreants while filling oil at the Moirang Oil Pump.
They further claimed that the armed miscreants looted valuable items, impounded the Shaktiman truck, two barrels of diesel (worth Rs 40,000), Rs 21,000 in cash, a brand new Chainsaw (valued at Rs 43,900), a Shaktiman Axle (valued at Rs 22,000), and some other spare parts.
Expressing concern over their safety, the victims drew attention to instances of torture, harassment, and property destruction faced by Nagas.
They emphasised their neutrality in the disputes between Meeteis and Kuki-Zo communities but questioned the intentions of the Meetei community toward the Nagas.
In their letter, the victims appealed to the UNC urging appropriate action within 10 days.
They stated that failure to witness timely intervention from UNC would compel them, along with their local community, to consider the Meetei community unfriendly and take necessary actions independently.