Abducted RIMS officials back home safely
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 12 2008: The two Engineers of RIMS who were reportedly abducted by armed cadres of the proscribed KCP (Ibungo Ngangom) returned home safely last night.

Consequently, the cease work strike of the OPDs, Casualty and OTs called by the staff and doctors of the medical institute from today has been called off with immediate effect.

Media had earlier reported that AE Ng Robindro of Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai and SO Y Surjit of Sega Road Takhellambam Leikai have been abducted from the residence of the latter in the afternoon of December 9 .

BACK HOME : The two RIMS Engineer

However it has turned out that both of them were detained after going to the place where the armed abductors called them.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at RIMS today evening, Medical Superintendent of RIMS Professor Y Mohen said that although the cease work strike has been suspended since the two abducted engineers have returned home safely, an instruction from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is being awaited for taking up necessary action against the two Engineers as they had gone at the summons of the UGs without informing the RIMS authority.

There is already a standing order of the Director that no official and staff of the Institute should respond to the summon of any UGs, Dr Mohen informed.

Dr Mohen also reacted strongly to the statement of the chief project officer cum secretary of publicity and information of KCP which was published in the newspapers today in which the outfit asked the Director, Deputy Director, Chief Account Officer, Medical Superintendent and Heads of Departments who participated in a meeting on December 10 in connection with abduction of the two engineers, to contact the outfit at the earliest possible.

"Are we to contact at the Khangabok residence of Nando alias Wanglen Khuman of KCP or at the Taokhong residence of Ibungo Ngangom alias Nongdrenkhomba or at the jail ?," he questioned.

In a meeting with the Chief Minister yesterday, RIMS authority had urged for taking up necessary measures to stop the system of issuing extortion letters and threats from the jail, he informed.

Stating that there has been no change in the stand of RIMS not to entertain any ransom demand, he appealed to all the organisations not to mislead the people or tarnish the reputation of RIMS officials on this count.

Along with the two Engineers, Director of RIMS Prof L Fimate, Deputy Director Dr Th Chandrabir and Chief Account Officer Deven were also present during the press conference.

The two Engineers said that there is no truth in the claim of the KCP that involvement of RIMS officials including its Director in corruption have been confirmed from their interrogation through video recording.

Earlier giving their statements to the police at Porompat Police Station, the two Engineers informed that following the telephone call of Ibungo Ngangom of KCP, on December 10 both of them waited near the house of Robindro till 2 pm but no one turned up.

Later on they received another call asking them to come to a place in between Phaknung and Kangla Sangomshang.

So they went on the Honda Activa of Robindro.

There they met three persons who took away their mobile phones and the vehicle and insisted them on climbing atop a hill situated nearby.

When they were haft-way to the top, it was dark and received a telephone call directing them to halt the night there.

So they spend the night in a Loutangshang (hut).

The two engineers further informed the police that they have been called by KCP in connection with contract works at RIMS and no ransom demand had been ever mentioned.

After spending the night at the Loutangshang, they were proceeding ahead when they heard gun firing in and around the hill last night.

Hearing the gun firing, the three persons including the one armed with a pistol who have abducted them fled leaving them to their fate.

After some time when the firing stops, they climbed down the hill and reached a village at around 8 pm.

They learnt that it was Sanjenbam.

From there they were made to drop at Kongpal in a Tata Magic van and spend the night at Gourgovind Girls' College at Khurai.

They arrived at RIMS today morning.

According to an officer of the Imphal East District Police, on receiving a complaint lodged by the RIMS authority in connection with the missing of two engineers, a case had been registered and investigation started.

The District Police had also launched a massive search operation.

Last night, an information was received about the release of the two engineers.

However, they were not in their houses when visited.

As part of the case proceeding , the statements of the two engineers have been taken and further investigation is on.

However, more detailed information is not available, the officer added.