Militants continue abducting children in Manipur

Imphal, Aug.9 (ANI): Manipur militants are abducting teenagers and are using them to serve their personal agendas.

Rising incidents of abductions are now a major cause of concern for common people in Manipur. People have denounced the increase in instances of abduction of children.

Thirteen-year-old Okram Amarjit of Wangjing Heituppokpi Awang Leikai has been missing since July 17. Two people allegedly abducted him on the false promise of getting him a job.

Sixteen-year old teenagers, Khundrakpam Bitanjit and Saikhom Sidhanta from Heirok were also taken away by two people, identified as O. Biju and O. Naba.

Police later apprehended O. Biju, when he was going along with another abducted youth, identified as 13-year-old Soibam Ronaldo from Wangjing in Thoubal.

Biju disclosed that children were being sold to militant outfits.

Following this disclosure angry people from Heirok and Wangjing villages burnt down the houses of alleged abductors.

"After getting some information we went to Moreh to search for our children. There, we met a KYKL cadre but failed to get any information and couldn't trace the children. Later, we were informed that our children had been sold by abductors to a militant outfit for Rs. 30,000 each," said Sobita Devi, a mother of abducted teenager.

"The public has decided to root out these abductors who sell children for money. The incidents are happening not only in Heirok and Wangjing villages but also all over the state," said Surjit, father of an abducted teenager.

On July 19, two teenagers from Chingarel village were abducted by four unidentified miscreants.

Fortunately, after 2 days Lairenlakpam and Ngangbam managed to escape from the clutches of abductors.

"We were on our way for some work when all of a sudden a van stopped besides us. Some men came out and forced us inside the van. There were four men in the van," said Ngangbam Kuber Singh, a teenager who managed to escape.

On July 19, members of outlawed KCP (MC) abducted 23-year-old Yumnam Manoaba from Yourbung Maning Leikai.

The victim's father, Y Megha is working under Manipur's Health and Family Welfare Minister and the abduction was carried out in order to set up a meeting with the Minister regarding an ongoing renovation project of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).

Following the incident, college students and social activists in Imphal staged a mass protest rally against abductions.

After a massive search operation, Y. Manaoba was rescued by a combined team of Imphal West and Imphal East commandoes from a house at Thoubal Samurou.

A KCP (City Meitei) cadre Nepram Priyojit alias Nanao was also captured along with arms and ammunition.

"After our vigorous efforts and intelligence inputs, we have been successful in rescuing Y. Manaoba from Samurou area," said P. Kailun, senior superintendent of police in Imphal West.

Militant groups are not getting any support from the people. They have now started abducting teenagers to survive.

Their illegal acts have been widely condemned by people in the state. (ANI)