My heart suddenly became heavy and felt an unusual feeling the moment I saw a large crowd of students expressed their deepest sorrow and grief in show of solidarity along the National Highway 39 at Maram on 7th November 2003. The protest was so cold in nature and the play card that they held expressed deep concern of baby Elizabeth and appealed her safe release to her abductors. I was in bewilderment for the rest of the journey towards Imphal thinking of the poor child. A tender baby she would have been, though I have never seen her in life but definitely a cute and lovely one as any other child of her age always does, I presumed.

She was a baby in III Standard after all. How these uneventful episodes ever occur on her? How she would have bored the ordeal in the hands of her abductors? Whether she would have been blindfolded with her mouth muffled so that she might not scream? Could she be thrown into a dungeon so that her scream goes unheard? Who can guarantee that she wouldn't have undergone the most unsavory tactics and degree of tortures to her for she sometimes scream out of fear and want of parents by her side? A child who knows nothing but to play and eat - why should she suffer this way?

As regard to the kidnapping and abduction many abler pens have already done pretty well earlier then mine and I don't want to describe it more. There had been certain cases of such cowardly act earlier yet people seemed to go their own way as if they were unheard of it. Many were silent even the one from whom we had expected most were silent spectator. So in one way we are all responsible for all the development that takes place either it is good or bed or even to the worse. Yes - we all have to silently concede and swallow the pill to make ourselves silent and quit whatever the amount of bitterness the pill could be. It is quiet ironic that Manipur is a home of more than a dozen underground outfits who had tested the time amidst the bullets and fires and journey through the life and death since long, who also assured the people of the land an equality, justice and firmly vowed to defend from the oppressors and stood for the truth.

Many hypocrites thus have had been shown the right path, many corrupts have been brought in the light of the public yet again, there are rooms for such savagely and beastly elements in our society too. How such unimaginable practice ever sneaked in our thickly guarded society? How some people give a helping hand in such act of sin and crimes? Had God really been existed this will never go unpunished. Now the larger question, which has emerged before us: shall we still keep our eyes shut and lip tightened when the saturation point is alarmingly advancing? True that, time runs through the rough weather. Writing on such issues and being a part of the agitation and a protagonist needs special effort in every step. Any step missed could prove fatal and proverbial fishing in the troubled water. Who can predict what may happen to her/his ward next day? It is all that. But we all have to ask in one voice how long this will go? We ought to have a protector, a real protector who can guard us all around and who also at the same time can show what is good and what is bad. Sometimes I feel guilty of being myself and a Manipuri.

When the entire Khwairamband Keithel closed down their shutters in protest against the kidnapping of the innocent child some people at the Paona Bazar stretch have the nerve to keep their shops open whole day. What a callous and shameless people they are? Can they survive alone? I wonder. All this lousy culture becomes our tradition and order of the day. Every one is boss in his own chair. When the wailing mother laments for her son who had been brutally shot down by some triggered happy elements, just a few furlong away from the spot some will dance and rejoice and celebrate their party to the fullest without the slightest thought what is happening to the next door. When a tender girl in a certain locality become a victim and when her modesty ever looted by the superior forces our so called son of the soil will never bother but to continue their late night musical session at the BOAT and elsewhere. This could have been rescheduled or postponed by a day or two only to show solidarity and support to the women who felt victim. Is not this our responsibility? Poor people never care to think that the next may be his own sister.

At times we talk of Sharmila too. When the sweet girl at the prime of her youth emerged out boldly to venture fast unto the death many were there behind who push her from behind with "Go ahead sign" who on returning home discussing the public issues including Sharmila over few packs of whisky or fine Sekmai. It is not that Sharmila had gone the way out of her will but abetting. My humble contention is Sharmila had done her part but the question that has now emerged is where are those who were making many hue and cries earlier? They are at times mounted on the public podium and deliver picturesque speech and his theoretical knowledge always laudable. Sharmila is now all alone and fighting a battle with hopes in despair on her dying bed. This is also related chapter.

Coming back to the present issue, whatever the agitation we uphold needs to have a clear and farsightedness vision. Had we raised our voice in protest at the first instance when such infamous practice were first mooted in the soil of Manipur, then the present situation could have well been averted. This was legitimized and an accepted tradition in our soil and that is why we will have to pay the costly price. I wish somebody hearing this. It may not be wrong to comment that there will be a galore of similar incident of kidnapping cases in the days to come. Some may be released and some perhaps might not come out to see the light of the day for the following morning. This is a thriving business and the most short cut route to prosperity is exactly what some section assumed. The value of life is often measured in term of money and call of sympathy and humanity simply flown into the wilderness.

For baby Elizabeth, the ball is now in the court of her kidnappers. It is not known whether the abductors of baby Elizabeth ever smile when the flower blooms and when the child smiles but I am very sure they would surely move by the crystal clear teardrops rolled down on the rosy check of the tender Elizabeth for she is innocent and deserves no punishment. Whoever he or she maybe, must be some one borne by the female and feels mother's compassion and love. I have every reason to believe that they will release Elizabeth without further delay with a lot of kisses on her cheeks.

In the meantime the rescue team of the state machineries may well aware what they are pursuing after? We wish Elizabeth comes home safe and sound but this otherwise could be ordained due to the excesses of the operation team and of course many other pressure group which uses harsh term while expressing condemnation. In my opinion, we better take a very soft line. The sit in protest and silent protest in standing ovation by the students is the right decision. Who knows kidnappers of baby Elizabeth may change their stand and draw closure to the God very soon?

The most important business at the moment is the return of baby Elizabeth home and reunites with her family. Nothing could be more important than this. At this crucial juncture we could only pray for the comfort of baby Elizabeth and her safe release.