Imphal, November 19 2009: Sudden imposition of blockade by irate residents of Khurai normal traffic along the Imphal-Ukhrul section of the NH-150 was disturbed Thursday afternoon.

Residents imposed the sudden blockade decrying police action in dispersing womenfolk staging sit-in demonstration in front of office of the state electricity department.

Thangjam Tomalchand (58), an EE in the Electric department and Leitanthem Mangi (55), an SO in the Tamenglong division of Electric department, all residents of Khurai area of Imphal east district were kidnapped by the cadres of the United People's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) on November 6 last in connection with connection with alleged fraud involving Rs 15 crores in the department.

The womenfolk of Khurai area were staging protest in front of the office of the state electricity department, Keishampat pressing the authority to secure safe release of two officers of the department in the custody of the undergrounds.

Police dispersed the demonstration around noon with baton-charge alleging that the area which is closed to Imphal Raj Bhavan is silent and security zone area and asking them to carry on the protest in their locality.

Police also snatched the festoons, banners etc.

possessed by the demonstrators.

In the aftermath to the dispersion, womenfolk attempted to carry out the protest at Keishampat junction which was also foiled.

After they were dispersed from the area, womenfolk gathered at Khurai Thangjam Leikai and imposed the blockade on the Imphal-Ukhrul section of the NH-150.The blockade has forced travelers to divert their route to by-lane to cross the blockade area.

"We could not angry with the police action to us.

We are carrying out the demonstration in a peaceful manner only to press the higher authority of the department for safe release of the two officers," elder sister of the Tomalchand lamented.

Police who arrived at the place where womenfolk blocked the road convinced protestors to open the route and continue their sit-in demonstration a proper place where traffic will not disturbed but irate womenfolk refused to do so.

Later, police forced to open the road by dispersing them out.

The kidnapping of two officials of the state electricity department linked with the demand of a fraud involving Rs 15 crores in the state electricity department.

Sources in the department disclose that there was an instant of pressing then to hand over documents related with Check Withdrawal Authority (CWA) of the department by the undergrounds.

Refusal on the part of the higher authority of the department would have link with the kidnapping of the two officials, an official of the department in the condition of omitting his name disclosed.

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