Imphal, June 17 2009: Driver of the MPP general secretary abducted on June 8 last by the cadres of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) enjoying suspension of operation with the security forces and state government rescued by police commandos of Imphal east district from Phaikolen last night.

The driver of the MPP general secretary A Sidam identified as Sagolsem Sunilwas kidnapped by around eight persons alleging that he is the leader of a gang collecting money from people by force on June 8 last and kept in their custody for the last around eight days.

Sunil was found keeping underneath the earth upto his waist by the abductors.

Many injured marks were found at the belly and other part of the body of the Sunil which were caused by beating with stick, piercing with top of the gun etc.

Sunil was abducted by around 20 cadres of KLA from his home at Nungsum under Lamlai police station on the night of June 8 last along with five other villagers of Nongsum village.

According to the villagers, after taking away them upto a bus waiting shed at Khamenlok on the same night, they were interrogated till late night.

Five of them were released after the interrogation but Sunil was taken away.

On the next day womenfolk of the villages of Khamenlok, Gogoichang, songjang, Jodankai etc.

but it was suspended after one person said to be army chief of the KLA informed them that Sunil was not abducted to kill over phone.

They abducted him only to know something from him.

They also threatened to kill Sunil if they happened to try to make the matter larger.

As per discloser made by Uyumpok Gram Panchayat member, after abducting Sunil, KLA charged him of collecting money from the people using force and he has four AK rifles, one pistol.

He will not release till the weapons in his possession is not hand over to them.

In the later day, family of the Sunil went to the house of the chief of the Yanglonkai village with Rs 10,000 and a pig.

But KLA refused to release stating sticking to their stand that till they got the weapon he will not be released.

While family was trying to negotiate with Rs 50,000 for his safe released, police rescued him, the family informed.

A police officer in Imphal east district informed that a team of Imphal east police commandos conducting a sudden cordon off operation at Sekta village which is also located within the jurisdiction of the Lamlai police station last night found him hiding at a house in the village.

Militants taking captivity of the workers have managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness of the area, they said.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, a combined team of police commandos in Thoubal district and troops of 21 Assam Rifles gunned down a suspected militant this early morning in what they claimed in encounter occurred early this morning at around 4.30 pm at Laimanai under Kakching police station in Thoubal district.

An M-20 pistol along with seven empty cases was recovered from the spot where the encounter occurred, police report added.

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