Protestors demanding for safe release of two captives from Kuki hands cautions government

Imphal: Demanding the government to rescue the two Meitei youths who have been captivated by armed Kuki militants, people took out protest in Thoubal district of Manipur on Monday.

Three boys fell in the hands of Kuki militants on Friday. One of them was released on the same day. Two of them remained in the militants’ custody. The militants demanded the government to shift the Kuki prisoners at Sajiwa Jail to Churachandpur so as to free the two youths.

The youths were on their way to New Keithelmanbi for one among them was to take part in an SSC GD recruitment rally to be held at headquarters 9 Sector Assam Rifles in Imphal West. They wrongly traced towards Kethelmanbi of Kankpokpi district through Google map, which is Kuki prone area.

Large number of people gathered at Thoubal Mela Ground on Monday evening and blocked trans Asian highway-1 (NH-102) while members of joint action committee formed in connection with the incident were holding a meeting with chief minister N. Biren Singh at his residence, here.

The chief minister appealed the committee not to launch any form of protest as the ‘process of rescuing the two individuals is still on with the involvement of DGP and IGAR (South)’.

The joint action committee said they will wait till Monday midnight. They warned to launch intensified forms of agitation from 6 am of Tuesday if the government failed to rescue the duo by Monday.

The protestors suspended their demonstration following the chief minister’s assurance.

Mother of Thokchom Thoithoiba (one of the duo) fell unconscious at the protest site.

N. Sanjoy who is the father of N. Johnson (released by armed Kuki militants) with group of media at his Thoubal Khekman Maning Leikai residence said, “I am restless though my son is released. Two of his companions are still under their custody, I appeal the government to rescue the two others at the earliest.”

He also appealed those who are keeping the two individuals as captives to release them safe, as he thanked for releasing his son.

Johnson said his son was only the candidate of SSC GD recruitment; the two others were his companions.