IMPHAL, Dec 21: The family members of the 27 labourers from Wangoo, Thoubal district who have been reportedly detained at Lamta Village in Tamenglong district since December 6 have appealed to the concerned authorities for their safe release at the earliest.
Addressing a press meet this afternoon at Manipur Press Club, social worker of Kumbi assembly constituency Ningombam Ibohal told mediapersons that all 27 labourers hailing from Wangoo in Bishnupur district have been engaged as lumberjacks by two contractors from Tamenglong, namely Khangbo and Khangpi through three local people of Wangoo, namely Amom Sanajaoba, Amom Bira and Sanasam Shyamjai.
The labourers have been taken to Tamenglong for a contract work at Kuilong Village but after they reached Tamenglong their work place was shifted to the neighboring Lamta Village. They have been reportedly detained illegally by the authority of Lamta Village on charges of encroachment in the forest area of the village, Ibohal said.
The contractors who have engaged the labourers failed to give their whereabouts and they are also unwilling to meet the aggrieved family members of the detained labourers. The concerned authority should book the defaulting contractors and trace the whereabouts of the labourers as soon as possible, he asserted.
The family members have also filed a complaint to the DGP of Manipur Police regarding the illegal detention of the labourers at Tamenglong.
The 27 labourers from Wangoo have been identified as Sanasam Birenbabu, Laishram Dhana, Ningthoujam Tomba, Moirangthem Tonjao, Loitongbam Nimai, Haomom Tomba, Liotongbam Tiken, Namoijam Achou, Pukhrambam Devand, Moirangthem Shyama, Amom Manglem, Amom Birshing, Laishram Tiken, Laishram Bihari, Yengkhom Nungsibabu, Haorongbam Ibochouba, Haorongbam Heroijit, Haorongbam Indrajit, Mutum Okendro, Mutum Kumar, Sanasam Kirik, Sanasam Birman, Sanasam Biten, Leishangthem Anand, Wahengbam Ibohal and Wahengbam Herojit.
