Newmai News Network
Imphal, Dec 3: With the abduction of five officials of Public Health and Education Department (PHED), Manipur almost completing a week without so much as a trace of their condition of being alive, family and friends of the abducted officials have expressed anxiety and frustration today in a sit-in-protest in Imphal area.
H Bilasini Devi, wife of one of the abductee H Gyaneshor, choked when she said, ‘It’s been a week since the kidnap, we are eager to see him alive’, in a sit-in-protest in Pishumthong Oinam Leikai in Imphal West today.
In the protest demonstration organized by United Pioneer Club and Pishumthong Meira Paibis, supported by family, friends and the locality Bilasini expressed shock at the utter disregard shown by the authority concerned in bringing the kidnapping holdup to its logical end.
‘Until now there has not been any attempt by the kidnappers or the government’s PHED department to bring to our information any development on the matter, hence keeping us groping in the dark. While the kidnappers, KCP-MC, have switched off its contact number, the government department is insisting it is still negotiating.
She requested both the government and the kidnappers to promptly arrive at an understanding and release the five abducted officials on humanitarian ground.
A protestor expressed similar sentiment saying since the kidnapping is in connection with the PHED, the department must pull together all resources in negotiated settlement and in bringing back the kidnapped officials safe and sound.
Meanwhile, Yaishkul Moirangkhom Chingamakha Leikai womenfolk have also staged sit-in-protest in the locality today demanding prompt resolution of the kidnapping drama of five officials of PHED.
It must be recalled that five PHED officials have been abducted on November 27 by cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC) while on their way to Senapati district to inaugurate water supply scheme under NLCPR. With no lead established so far on the case, the Family members and colleagues of the five abducted officials have pledged to stage indefinite joint sit-in-protest at PHED office complex beginning Tuesday until the abducted officials of the State engineering department is safely liberated from captivity.
The abducted PHED officials have been identified as H Ganeshwor of Pishum Oinam Leikai, K Rameshwor of Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, K Mangigopal of Uripok, N Somikumar of Yaiskul Chingakham Leikai and A Ibomcha of Samorou.