Missing trio rescued: CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 21 2009: The three employees abducted together with Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan, Mondal Y Token and Driver A Rajen have been rescued by a combined team of Assam Rifles and police from Tolloi, Ukhrul district this morning.

The rescued employees are Extension Officer in-charge RS Ramsing, village level worker S Ramthing and Peon Kapangkhui.

People believe that the State Government can now ascertain the identities, motives and details of the culprits involved in the barbaric murder.

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Conveying about the successful rescue operation during a press meet this afternoon, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said the three abducted employees were rescued after a joint operation by Assam Rifles and police led by an IG.

During the press meet which started at about 2.45 pm, the Chief Minister said that the rescued employees were being brought to Imphal by an AR team.

They would be arriving at Imphal within 10/15 minutes, Ibobi maintained.

The AR team was entrusted to bring the rescued employees to Imphal to avoid any misadventure on the way, he stated.

"The three employees would be fearing both the murderers and the Government.

As their minds would have been already troubled with the possible threats to their future lives when they disclose the truths and facts of the gruesome murder, they would be questioned with the assurance of full protection in their future lives," the Chief Minister conveyed.

To a query raised by scribes about the people's lingering suspicion of NSCN (IM)'s involvement in the brutal murder, Ibobi said that the State Government would exert pressure upon the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to take up necessary actions against the rebel group in case their involvement is confirmed prima facie.

Claiming that almost 90 percent of demands raised by the JAC have been fulfilled, Ibobi informed that the Government has initiated actions against suspended DC Pankaj Kumar Pal.

But criminal proceedings will be initiated against him after his involvement/fault/lapses in connection with the heinous crime are confirmed prima facie, he added.

If any instance of negligence of duty and coordination lapses on the part of Pankaj Kumar Pal are confirmed after the investigation being done by an IPS officer and an IAS officer is over, further actions will be taken up against the suspended DC.

After the State Police handed over the murder case to CBI, the central investigating agency has given consent to initiate investigation work, informed the Chief Minister.

Stating that there is no harm in the JAC's demand to cremate the three deceased employees at a common place and develop memorial sites at Ukhrul and Lukhrabi Thong, Ibobi said that the Government is fully aware of the hardships being endured by people due to imposition of curfew in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.

Yet, the curfew is clamped in the two districts considering the existing tense situation and apprehending the difficulties the Government would face in case any untoward incident breaks out, Ibobi disclosed.

Imposition or lifting of curfew depends on the situation, the Chief Minister noted.

If the corpses are claimed and customary last rites performed, the existing curfew can be relaxed from tomorrow, Ibobi stated.

Taking part in the press meet, DGP Y Joykumar said that acting on some inputs about the three missing abducted employees, a combined team of police and troops under 10 Sector AR launched an operation in Kachai area on February 18.Subsequent inputs informed that the three employees were at Tolloi under difficult conditions.

Acting on the inputs, another joint operation was launched since yesterday before the three employees were rescued at about 3.30 am today, the DGP said.

After being rescued, the three employees were put in the Tolloi post of Assam Rifles.

As all the three employees looked very decre pit, they have not been questioned yet, he disclosed.

It was reported that the three employees were putting up in the area under difficult conditions.

As of now, they are not criminals but 'a part of the victim', the DGP asserted.