Imphal, January 23 2010: In an apparent case of abduction for ransom, son of a Government college professor was captured by unidentified gunmen last evening.

According to a report, Thingbaijam Anand (20) s/o Th Nabakumar of Irengbam mamang Leikai was approached by some armed unidentified person at around 5.30 pm to show the direction of Yumnam Khunou-Keinou road while the youngster was at a residence near the local pond where a marriage ceremony was being solemnised.

The father is informed to be the head of department of Geography in Imphal College.

Elaborating on the incident, Anand said he was called out by two persons to show the direction which he naively complied only to come find that there were more accomplices of the duo when they neared Khujairok river bank.

Anand was reportedly kicked from behind before his face was swiftly wrapped and blind folded and taken away.

When the blind fold was removed in a mustard field, Anand said he realised that the spot was near a road as vehicles were moving with lights on.

While two stayed close to him, four others could be heard talking on mobile phones to get a vehicle, Anand recounted and added that at the same spot his banian was ripped apart to tie his hands as well as gag his mouth.

When the captors' insistence to contact his parents was declined Anand's mobile phone was taken away, the sim card removed and inserted to another cell phone from where the captive was forced to call home that he was in captivity of 3/4 persons demanding Rs 5 lakh ransom amount.

the father's query regarding the location ended abruptly as the phone was in switched-off mode.

Anand further narrated that while four persons were busy talking on their phones and sensing laxity of two others closest to him, he sprinted straight for the road with his hands and mouth still in bound and regardless of the captors threatening to open fire.

Upon reaching the said road Anand frantically signalled for help and fortunately found that occupants of the Maruti Van were from the same marriage party who were on their way to the bride-groom's place at Ngakchroupokpi.

The boy later came to know that the place where he met the bride's party was locally called Heibi Makhong, an isolated stretch in between Oinam and Yumnam khunou on the ImphalChurachandpur road.

Inspite of accompanying the bride party, Anand was kept in another safe location from where Oinam AC MLA Dr Irengbam Ibohal and subsequently Bishnupur district police commando were contacted who later rescued and safely handed over Anand to his parents.

Meanwhile, some among the bride's party told newspersons of two unknown youths stopping a bus and boarding on it even as two others closely followed the vehicle on a honda activa scooter.

When the two inside the bus alighted at Khwairakpam area a white colour Maruti Gypsy was also seen parked leading to speculation that the four-wheeler might have been brought to take Anand farther away.

Locals also claimed of witnessing the same Maruti Gypsy with only the parking lights on speeding towards oinam from Irengbam Kangjeibung at the same time Anand was likely to be in the custody of the captors.

Significantly, the boy's father Nabakumar revealed that in November last he received a demand note of Rs 5 lakh from the KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) group followed by similar demand notes of Rs 10 each served to all the teaching staff inclusive of the Principal of Imphal College.

Further disclosed that an agreement was arrived at regarding the monetary demand served to the teachers, Nabakumar pleaded innocence on whether abduction of his son might be related to the same issue.

A public meeting held at Irengbam Kangjeibung today in connection with the incident resolved to prohibit entry of strangers into Irengbam village from 6 pm till 5 am with immediate effect.

Apart from deciding to stage protest demonstration tomorrow, the public also resolved to appeal to all concerned to clarify on the matter.

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