Abducted Thangal leader released
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi, April 06 2013 : Houmei Khangba, President of Thangal Union and Chief of Tumnoupokpi village under Kangpokpi police station of Senapati District, who had been abducted by some armed persons suspected to be cadres of NSCN (IM) at gun-point from his residence on the night of April 4, was released safe and sound today.

Khangba was not rescued nor had any amount given to the abductors.

He was released after the abductors found him to be the wrong person.

Khangba reached home around 2:30 pm today.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao at his Tumnoupokpi residence after being released today after noon, Khangba, who is a diabetic patient, first of all extended his gratitude to all the civil organizations, well-wishers and all other individuals who have prayed for him and rendered every possible effort for his safe release.

Recounting his ordeal, Khangba informed that after being abducted from his house, the abductors to him to a house in some unknown place and kept him there for the whole night.

There was only one aged-woman in that house.

While being held captive, his abductors did not tie his hands nor blind-folded him.

"They provided me a shawl to wear and I spent the night without any disturbance.

They also gave me medicine when I told them I am a diabetic patient.

Early next morning, they took me through a jungle.

After about 3/4 hours of walk, we arrived at a hut in the jungle and they detained me there", Khangba said.

"They (the abductors) told me that I am working against their party.

When I asked them to which party they belong to, they did not give me any satisfactory answer.

I do not think my abductors were cadres of either of KRA, KNF or NSCN (IM), but some newly formed organization," Khangba added.

Khangba disclosed that his abductors demanded Rs 10 lakh from him.

But his family members later informed him that the amount demanded from them to secure his release was not Rs 10 lakh but Rs 40 lakh.

"I told them very clearly, I am not in a position to meet the demand for such a hefty amount and explained to them about my living condition", Khangba said.

"They also asked me several questions.

They said I was once a MLA and demanded to know how I build my residential building.

But I clarified that I was once a member of District Council, Sadar Hills holding the post of Vice Chairman from 1984 to 1988 and not a MLA and that I built my residential building by availing loan from SBI.

They further asked me from where do I get that Bolero, which is parked in my compound; I told them it belongs to Thangal Union, Khangba informed.

"After several round of interrogation, they told me that they are very sorry that they have abducted the wrong person and made an apology to me.

Consequently, they asked one person we came across on the way going to his jhum cultivation work to drop me upto the main road and the said person led me to the maid road.

Thereafter, I called up my family and they brought me home", said Khangba.

Khangba informed that his abductors were also aware of the search operation conducted by a combined team security personnel including a team of police commandos from Imphal.

Meanwhile, family members of H.Khangba, Thangal Union and Thangal Students' Union have conveyed gratitude to NPO, UNC, SDSA, SDWA, SKWA, Mao Union, Poumei Union, Maram Union, Senapati Upper Zaliangrong Zone, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, KSO Sadar Hills, Tangkhul Long, Aze Longphang, KTC, SKTC as well as other well wishers for rendering support towards ensuring safe release of Khangba.

The two Unions have also lauded the effort of 59 Mt.Brigade Brig.

S.K.Sharma, 43 Assam Rifles Kpi and Motbung Post, Kangpokpi Police personnel in this egard.

YK.

Kaping, Vice President of Thangal Union has appealed to all concerned ensure such unwanted incidents of abduction causing mental agony among the family members and relatives are not repeated in future and let peace and harmony prevailed in the society.

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