Sit-ins protest abduction; JAC formed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, October 17 2022:
Condemning the abduction of All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union (AMGSU) leader Roshan Uprety by unknown armed miscreants, sit-in protests were staged at Charhajare and other places demanding safe release of Roshan on Monday.
A Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the kidnapping of Roshan Uprety was also formed to spearhead the movement for securing his safe release.
Earlier, in the morning, the JAC decided to impose bandh and blockade if the captive is not released before 6:30 pm.
However, considering the spirited concern of the district administration, district police and the support and cooperation of the Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi and various CSOs of the district, the JAC decided to extend another 24 hours ultimatum for the safe release of the abducted person.
JAC chairman Mani Kumar Sarki, however, said that if Roshan Uprety is not released even after the extended ultimatum, then they will definitely take an extreme decision in consultation with all the CSOs of Kangpokpi.
The protestors at Charhajare held placards inscribed with slogans like, "Release Roshan Uprety immediately", "Stop Gun Culture", "No to Guns, Yes to Peace", "We condemn kidnapping", "We want justice", "We demand safe release of Roshan Uprety", etc.
Similar sit-in-protests were also held at Serou, Kalapahar, Moreh, Leimakhong, Motbung, and other places by respective units of All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union.
The JAC along with various other Gorkha civil bodies also resolved to organise peaceful agitation at different locations and close down all business establishments while making it clear that they would take recourse to intense form of agitation as further course of action in case Roshan Uprety is not released within the stipulated time.
The JAC also demanded the state government to set up a commando post at Charhajare for the safety of public and to prevent such unwanted incidents in the future.
Various Gorkha civil bodies including All Manipur Gorkha Ex-Servicemen (Defence and CAPF) Association, All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union, and Navin Gorkha Youth Club Charhajare have also condemned the kidnapping of Roshan Uprety, and demanded his safe release.
Speaking to the media, Roshan's wife Sunita Uprety informed that her husband is a differently-abled person owing to a major surgery he underwent and a cleft palate man who could not eat normally like others.
She appealed to the kidnappers for his safe release considering his physical condition and the future of his two minor innocent daughters.
She further recalled that on October 15 around 7:30 pm, some unknown miscreants came in a white car and entered their house enquiring about her husband.
Meanwhile, Mantripukhri Gorkha Youth Club has condemned the kidnapping and extended its supports to the JAC in all its future course of action.
MGYC also demanded safe release of Roshan Uprety at the earliest.
Roshan is the president of AMGSU, Charhajare unit, serves as teacher at Sanatan Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Charhajare and is treasurer of Naveen Gorkha Youth Club Charhajare.
Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union also strongly condemned the abduction of Roshan Uprety of Charhajare village in Kangpokpi district.
In a release, the Union said that the abducted person is from a middle class family, very humble and socially attached.
Recounting the incident, the Union said that the miscreants, who came in a white Maruti Brezza car from Kangpokpi side, stopped near his shop, whisked him inside their car and drove towards Imphal side.
Some of his friends who were present at the scene when incident took place were driven away with blank fire when they tried to protect Roshan.
His whereabouts remain unknown till late evening, the general secretary pointed out.
Further, MGWU drew the attention of the government authority to release the abducted person as soon as possible and also to award befitting punishment to the abductors so as not to commit such crime in the future.