IMPHAL, December 20: Family members of the two masons who were kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants on December 10 allegedly for a monetary demand of Rs 50 lakh from their temporary lodge at Tuesomphal LP School have demanded their safe release.
Speaking to the media persons at Manipur Press Club, one of the labourers who stayed with the two abducted person, Ningthojam Abo, said that they were engaged in the construction of a culvert in the village. He has been staying at the makeshift camp with seven other labourers and the two masons from December 3.
He further said that on December 10 at around 7.30 pm around seven-eight well-armed persons suspected to be Kuki militants came to their lodging. They asked whether all of them were engaged in the construction works and probed about the whereabouts of the mohari and the contractor, he stated.
He further said that when they replied that both of them were not present at that time, the armed persons forcibly took away the head mason identified as Amom Doren alias Eigan, 35, son of Kripa of Wangoo Sandankhong Awang Leikai and Sanasam Kala alias Tomba, 41, son of Sekhar of Wangoo Leipham Awang Leikai without assigning any reason.
Ibethoi, wife of Kala, said that they came to know about the kidnapping after the information was given to them by the police on December 12. On December 14, she along with Doren’s wife Ibemcha went to the residence of the contractor M Sanajaoba at Luwangshangbam regarding the incident. But when enquired about Sanajaoba, his wife replied that he was not staying there at that time. They had to return back without meeting the contractor, she said.
She also asserted that till today the contractor has not said any word to the family members or tried to meet members of the two families.
She also said that the family members came to know that the two masons were kidnapped in connection with a Rs 50 lakh monetary demand issued to the contractor.
She further appealed to the kidnappers for the safe release of her husband and Doren at the earliest in consideration of the hardship faced by their families and them being the soul bread earners of their family.
