Release demanded
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19 2014 : Sit-in protests were staged at Leitanpokpi Bazar Saikul Road and Kanglatongbi today to demand safe release as well as protest abduction of road construction workers.

Demanding safe release of road construction worker Asem Tomba (35) s/o A Kala of Thoubal Leishangthem, a sit-in protest was held today at Leitanpokpi Bazar Saikul Road.

The protest was jointly organised by Young Sporting Club, Leitanpokpi and Leitanpokpi Meira Paibi.

Speaking to newspersons at the protest venue, a meira paibi narrated that Tomba was picked up by three unknown persons from the temporary workers' shed located at H Champhai village at around 6.30 of January 16 .

about 10 workers engaged in black topping the Saikul Road were staying at the shed when Tomba was singled out and whisked away after way-laying a passenger carrier (Tata Magic) driven by one Ch Inaoba.

The meira paibi also quoted Inaoba, who is from Leitanpokpi, as saying that the unknown persons and Tomba got down at Gangpijang village from where Inaoba returned back.

Even though Inaoba was reportedly questioned about Tomba at Sagolmang police station his vehicle is yet to be released by the police.

The protestors fervently appealed to all concerned to release Tomba on humanitarian ground at the earliest.

At kanglatongbi the sit-in demonstration was jointly organised by Kanglatongbi Gram Panchayat, All Manipur Gorkha Students' union, All meira Paibi Organisation (Kanglatongbi), All Clubs of Kanglatongbi and Samshan Ghat Samity, Kanglatongbi at Kanglatongbi Mandir premises.

Apart from Kanglatongbi locals, people from Luwangsangol and Phailang villagers also joined the protest sitting and demanded safe and immediate release of two workers abducted by three khaki-clad unknown armed persons.

One of the protestors urged the Government of Manipur to open a police post in Kanglatongbi to check recurrence of criminal activities.

According to road construction worker Maibam Priyo the unknown persons, who came in a Maruti Van at around 9 pm of January 17 asked the workers resting at their temporary shed about the excavator operator and started to beat up the workers.

As some of the workers raised objection against the unruly conduct of trio, two of the workers namely Maibam Tomba (31) s/o M Mangi of Thoubal Nepra Company and Thongam Shanta (45) of Thoubal Athokpam were whisked away at gun-point.

Appealing to the abductors to release Tomba (Priyo's younger brother) and Shanta safe and sound, he said causing harm to the workers without any reason is highly condemnable.

If there is any issue with the contractor then the matter should be settled with the contractor, Priyo suggested.

Interacting with the newspersons, Kanglatongbi Gram Panchayat Pradhan Shiva Kumar Basnet said obstructing road development work in Kanglatongbi area is not justifiable in any manner as the people were deprived of development work since the last many years.

Asserting that abducting road construction workers amount to impeding development in the area and an affront to the aspiration of the people, he prevailed upon the State Government on the need for setting up a police post/station before Kanglatongbi is tuned into a kidnapping zone.

Shiva also appealed to the abductors to release both the workers without any delay on humanitarian ground.

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