Abducted Horticulture officials freed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 13 2013:
Even though the two Horticulture Department officials have been released today safe and sound by their captors there is no information about which group was involved in their abduction.
Horticulture officers Meitram Priyokumar of Yaiskul Janmasthan and Wangkheirakpam Ibopishak of Nongmeibung were reported as missing on their way back from a senapati district area on August 8 .
Speaking to some reporters after release, Ibopishak conceded that he has no idea about which group is behind their abduction or the motive for their detention.
Recounting that he and his colleague Priyokumar were returning home from Senapati in the latter's vehicle (car), Ibopishak said they were waylaid by 2-3 unknown persons armed with small weapons near a hillside corner on August 8 afternoon and getting into the vehicle took the duo towards a narrow road from the main road.
Remembering that the abductors had talked in what seemed to be Kuki dialect, Ibopishak said that although the exact location of their abduction was not familiar with him he was certain they had crossed Koubru Leikha.
having taken them off the main road at gunpoint, the abductors reportedly changed vehicle and blind-folding them took them deeper into the interior hilly locations including various settlement areas and jungles for the next few days.
Despite the captors arranging meals and resting places during their period in captivity, Ibopishak said his colleague developed health problems for he (Priyokumar) is a diabetic patient.
confiding that at around 3 pm yesterday the captives guided by the abductors started to descend from successive hill ranges before they were abandoned close to a black-topped inter-village road, Ibopishak said they took an auto-rickshaw which dropped them till Kanglatongbi.
After contacting their respective family members both reached here, he maintained while informing that he left behind some cash, mobile phone and other items during the location change-over.
Priyokumar also left behind a bag containing office documents, including ACR files, and three ATM cards, he added.