Abduction rumour sparks tension, SP appeals for calm
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 28 2023:
The state witnessed a tense situation on Monday following rumour about abduction of 17 girl students by unidentified miscreants, which turned out to be false.
Clarifying on the incident, SP Bishnupur has appealed to the people of the state to maintain calm and not to believe unverified reports.
According to SP K Meghachandra, he led police teams to Kabowakching in Bishnupur district after report of some unidentified mask men abducting 20 girl students, of which three reportedly escaped.
Police brought the three girls at Nambol police station where officials of social welfare department also spoke with the trio.
During the interview, the girls told the officials that three unidentified persons took them in an Eeco Van on the pretext of going to picnic.
There were already 17 girl students in the vehicle.
From there, the van stopped at the home of a relative of one of the three girls and changed their school uniform.
After some distance, the three got suspicious and jumped out of the van, the girls told the officials.
As all the three girls were wearing same type and colour of clothes, the official insisted for the truth stating that it was impossible for them having same clothes from the house of a relative without any planning.
After some persuasion, the three confessed that they skipped school and went for a picnic.
As it got late when they returned, they made up the story of abduction bid to avoid punishment from their parents, they disclosed.
Talking to media persons, the SP said that the girls cooked up the story out of fear of their parents.
Police did not use force to bring out the truth but they disclosed their story after giving assurance by officials concerned.
He also appealed to the people to refrain from threatening, punishing or pressuring the children but give them reassurance and counselling so that they do not repeat such mistakes in future.
Later, the three girl students were produced before the Child Welfare Committee, Bish nupur district, the SP added.
Earlier, the report of abduction of 17 girl students went viral on social media creating a tense situation.
Parents could be seen rushing to schools to get their children.
Amid the tension, another rumour about presence of the 17 girl students in Keithelmanbi area got circulated.
Meira Paibi members from different localities rushed to Keithelmanbi side.
Similarly, several Meira Paibi members of Imphal West and Bishnupur districts also went to Nambol police station following the rumour.
District police teams of Bishnupur and Imphal West also carried out search operation in different areas before the rumour was busted.
City PS personnel were also seen making announcement in Khwairamband Keithel clarifying the report and appealing to the public not to trust the rumour.
The rumour put both the police and the administration on high alert as the three cooked up a story that two people had kidnapped them along with 17 other students.
The police later detained the girls before handing them over to their parents.
"This news has been verified by the district police and it is established that the children fabricated the story as they skipped their classes today.
The children have been handed over to their parents," Manipur police said in X, formerly Twitter.
A senior police officer said that there was inconsistency in their statements.
"Proper verification was done by following due formalities.
It was established that their kidnapping story was fabricated as they skipped their class on Monday," the officer said.
The girls told the police that the kidnappers offered to take them for a picnic and asked them to get into a van.
As the news went viral, it set alarm bells ringing within the Manipur police and the civil administration at a time when the state has been dealing with ethnic turmoil since May 3, which has killed around 170 people so far.
The concocted story further heightened the tension a day before the special Assembly session.
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