KSU asks militants to release hostage

Shillong, July 24 (UNI) The Khasi Student's Union (KSU) in Meghalaya today observed a black flag demonstration, demanding immediate release of a student activist, abducted by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

Hundreds of KSU activists patrolled the main thoroughfare of Shillong with black flags, urging the HNLC to release Phershal Kongwang, president of Khasi Student's Union (KSU) of Dawki unit. He was ''abducted'' on December 16 last from Shyiap, a picnic spot bordering the Indo-Bangla border.

The militant organisation had defended itself and even assured the family members of trace the student leader and track down the persons involved in the crime.

However, four HNLC militants, who surrendered before the BSF personnel at Panisagar Border Outpost Post in Tripura, revealed that Khongwang was abducted by - Hep Koit, Jop Lamin and Bol Khonglah, all HNLC cadres based in Bangladesh.

''We were told by our senior cadres that Khongwang was eliminated at Japhlong village in Bangladesh by the HNLC for unknown reasons,'' Pynskhem Marwein alias Heplux Judas, one of the surrendered HNLC members, told reporters.

Police, however, said they were still investigating the case as the body of the KSU leader was yet to be recovered.

''We demand whoever is involved in abducting Kongwang to release him,'' KSU president Samuel Jyrwa told a gathering near St Anthony's college.

The student unions needed clear and outright reply from the abductors, he said.

In fact, parents of a missing student's activist in Meghalaya today asked the proscribed HNLC to release their son unharmed from their hideouts in Bangladesh.

''We are not satisfied with the HNLC's denial that they know nothing of the abduction... they must spell out clearly why he (Khongwang) was kidnapped, or if he is still alive, he must be released immediately,'' Phershal's uncle Presswell Khongwang said.

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