Abducted Horti officials released
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 13 2013:
The two Assistant Agriculture Officers (AAOs) of Horticulture Department, who were abducted by suspected KRA (U) cadres for a ransom of Rs.50 lakhs from Kanglatongbi area on August 8, have been released by the abductors safely near Kanglatongbi Keithel at around 3.30 pm today.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the Home Minister, however, claimed that the two officials were rescued by the police.
The released officials are Wangkheirakpam Ibopishak (56) of Nongmeibung and Meinam Priyokumar of Yaiskul Jamasthan.
Ibopishak is posted at Senapati while Priyokumar at Maram.
Narrating the ordeal to media persons, Ibopishak said that they were returning home from Senapati in Priyokumar's car in the afternoon of August 8 when they were abducted by some armed men suspected to be Kuki militants at gun point from between Motbung and Koubru Leikha.
They were blindfolded and taken to some hilly place in a vehicle first and then on foot.
They spent several days at different camps.
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When asked about the reason for their abduction, the cadres did not respond to them.
They told the cadres that they are just Grade-III officers who have little authority in the Department.
After sometime, a cadre asked them why they did not take up any horticulture project at Sadar Hills.
The officers responded that they are implementing some projects at three different places in Senapati district.
The cadres told them they would be set free on humanitarian ground.
They came down from the hills at around 3.30 pm yesterday and reached a place in the valley area after walking through fields.
They took bath at the place and later they were sent to Imphal in an auto today afternoon.
The family members have not given a single rupee to the abductors, Ibopishak said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the Home Minister, has exclaimed that abduction of Government officials for ransom by certain UG groups will not bring about anything good in the society except hampering the growth and development of the State.
Talking to media persons at Congress Bhawan here today, Gaikhangam stated that abduction of Government officials for ransom has started in the hills again.
He also claimed that two abducted officers of Horticulture Department namely Priyokumar and Ibopishak were rescued by the police.
Gaikhangam further said that the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi has been trying to develop the hills since it came to power 10/15 years back.
Under such a situation, abducting government officials sent by the Government to the hills for looking after the development works is very unfortunate.
Such abductions could be carried out by those groups which have no thinking power at all, he added.
There are certain UG groups under SoO which are violating the ground rules.
This will be brought up in the Joint Monitoring Group and discussed, Gaikhangam assured, while reiterate that those involved in crimes will surely be punished and we all need to remain as one in peace and solidarity.