IMPHAL, August 3: The fates of the seven including two engineers of the IFCD, their drivers and two other officials of a Kolkata based company allegedly kidnapped by suspected armed militants on August 1 around 5:15pm remain unknown and remain traceless till today.

The seven kidnapped individuals are IFCD SE, Irrigation Circle No II N Karunacharya Singh; EE, Irrigation Circle No II, N Surchandra Singh; their drivers L Sharatchandra Singh (Maruti Gypsy MN 01K 3263) and L Ibobi Singh (Maruti Gypsy MN 01K 9999); two representatives of the Kolkata base firm m/s RM Sinha & Co Devjit Sinha and Abhijit Sinha and a contractor Sanayaima Sharma.

Speaking to IFP at his Khoyathong office chambers, a visibly distraught Chief Engineer of the department, Th Indramani Singh said there has been no information on the seven who were kidnapped from Dolaithabi while returning from a site visit by unidentified miscreants on August 1.

He said that there is also no communication from those behind the kidnapping so far.

Soon after receiving reports about the grievous incident, he had reported the incident to the state DGP, he said and further lamented that the incident was really unfortunate.

Th Indramani further said he is in touch with the Minister of the concerned department and was discussing the incident at length.

Continuing further, the CE said he has already met with the Minister twice, and has already apprised the Minister who is the sole custodian of the dept from his side as to what steps need to be taken up at the earliest to ensure the safe release of the seven.

However, the Minister has not sorted out any policy or action to be taken up as of now in connection with the incident, he added.

When asked if the abduction could have been carried out by hills based UG groups in connection with ransom money and if there had been any monetary demand on the department or the two Engineers kidnapped, the CE replied that there has been no monetary demands made on the abducted engineers or their associates or to the department.

Soon after the seven persons were allegedly abducted, the CE’s two mobile phone, ten mobiles phones of other official staffs of the dept along with the landline telephone of the office have been kept on all the time so as to accommodate any effort from the kidnappers for communication, nonetheless, there has been no communication.

Moreover, with family members of the abducted persons including of those two officials from Kolkata inquiring about the incident, the pressure has increased tremendously, he said.

He said, he was just about to go meet the family members of all abducted persons.

Furthermore, when asked about the particular oufit which have allegedly kidnapped the seven persons, the chief engineer hinted that it might be one of the ‘’Kuki UG groups’’ based in hills.  

Meanwhile, reliable sources have informed IFP that the armed kidnappers who were altogether five in number seemed to have been laying in wait of the team.

Of the five, three spoke Kuki dialects and all of them had mobiles phones and weapons including big and small guns, informed the source.

The two representatives of the Kolkata based firm who were among those kidnapped after arriving at the Imphal Airport had directly left for Dolaithabi Barrage site along with the engineers on two Maruti Gypsy around 1pm.

The company is engaged in the construction of the Iron Gate for the Dolaithabi Barrage, informed the source.

The team was waylaid by five persons just about a Km from the construction site during their return journey and made to alight from their vehicles and talk, informed the source.

They were then taken away in their Maruti Gpsy and another vehicle on which the kidnappers had come, said the source.

Soon on receiving information about the officials kidnapping, the IFCD Chief Engineer Th Indramani Singh on the same day had submitted an official written report to the state Director General of Police of which copies were also sent to the state Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister (in charge of Home), IFCD Minister, Principal Secretaries of Home and IFCD.

The report, while saying that the department had failed to inform the concern authorities about the team’s visit and apply for security escort, had further requested for rescue operation of the seven at the earliest.tion of the seven at the earliest.

IMPHAL, August 3: A day-long discussion programme on the theme ‘’Peace and Human Security’’ jointly organised by the Social Action Development Organisation (SADO), Heirok along with CSD Branch Heirok was held today at Heirok Higher Secondary School.

While speaking as president of the function, District Session Judge, Thoubal Salam Imocha stated that people are today taking the law in their own hands and despite the fact that people should co-operate with Judges and the police to deliver justice according to law.

He said the people’s movement always come in forefront due to bad relation between police and public; and added that that law do not encourage “Public mob” which is punishable.

Sapam Dilip, LMS Law College’s Lecturer asserted that crime against women and children has been on the rise even though there are certain legal Acts which prohibit such actions.

He said that one must questioned within the purview of the law on how to control the unlawful actions.

Women Action for Development’s (WAD), Imphal secretary, M Sobita said there is possibility that drug cases might be more related with crimes against women and children than the armed conflict instances.

The function which was also attended by Heirok Higher Secondary School’s principal M Rajmuhon saw students interacting with experts at the programme.    

IMPHAL, August 3: DGP Y Joykumar Singh gave his assurance that the seven kidnapped persons including two engineers of IFCD, and two employees of a Kolkata based company will be rescued soon and the police are doing their best.

Speaking with this IFP reporter over the telephone, the police officer said that it was a big mistake that the IFCD engineers along with the two outsiders went to the place without any security escorts.

Security escorts have always been provided to the IFCD officials whenever they go at far flung places in the state for official purpose, the officer said.

It is still questionable why the IFCD officials did not ask to provide security escorts on that day visit when another team of IFCD officials on the same day including its Executive Engineer visited Maphou Dam asked for security escort and they were provided, the police officer maintained while adding that the police are investigating the case in details.

Police have also contacted the leaders of UG groups who have signed SoO pact with the government to help in the rescue mission, the police officer said.

“As it is case of kidnapping it is complicated and police cannot rush things as it may cause harm to the kidnapped victims. However, I believed that they will be rescued soon safe and sound,” he said.  

The police officer maintained that the motive behind the kidnapping is for ransom from IFCD.  

IMPHAL, August 3: As the government decision remains unchanged with its move to take over the Manipur Royal Palace, civil society organizations have continued to organized protest against the decision demanding its revocation.

A sit in protest was also staged today with demonstrators holding placards reading, “The Palace is our Life”, “Sana konung cannot be taken over”etc.

The 42nd meeting of the movement was today organized by the Kongba Kshetri Leikai Panthoibi Apunba Nupi Lup, and the sit in protest was led by general secy Laishram Lalita, president Athokpam Chandrajini and working president Panambam Loidangmacha.

There were more than 20 demonstrators present in the protest.

The demonstrators echoed that the rightful place for the king is in his Palace so the govt decision of taking over the sana konung should be taken back at the earliest.

IMPHAL, August 3: The Voluntary Action for Social Affairs (VASA), Karam Awang Leikai, Imphal West has today said in a press release that this NGO organised one day National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) 2012-13 under the theme of Biodiversity Conservation at the premises of Ibudhou Nongshaba Sanglen, Karam Awang Leikai, Imphal West District on August 2, 2013 under the sponsorship of Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt of India through the Directorate of Environment (RRA- Manipur State), Govt. of Manipur, Porompat Imphal.

The programme was inaugurated by Karam Shyam Singh, MLA, Langthabal a/c, W Bankimchandra Singh, chairperson, Lilong Nagar Panchayat and S Sanatomba Singh, Councillor, Lilong Nagar Panchayat as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively and it further said that the programme was followed by valuable talks on various relating topic/theme by three resource persons namely BC Tekcham, social activist, M Gunel Singh, convenor School Management Committee and U Bala Devi, Environmentalist, it said.

After the completion of the Awareness Campaign, as a part of action component, a tree plantation programme was also conducted in the area of Umang Lai campus led by Karam Shyam, MLA.

The programme was successfully concluded with full support of the local meira paibi and youth club.

IMPHAL, Aug 3: The All Manipur Students’ Union has today said in a press release that the Govt of Manipur has failed to address the grievances of the people in many areas especially in the issue of admission for those students who are recently pass their class X and XII compartmental exams, and also in the issue of soaring prices of the essential commodities and petroleum products following the landslide on the national highway, near Kohima.

The press release expressed their concern for those recently pass out compartmental students of both class X and XII who are unable to get admitted themselves due to unavailability of vacant seats most of the institutions in the stats and further continued to urge the Govt of Manipur to make special arrangements for the said students, it said.

On the other hand, the press release further expressed that Govt of Manipur failed to address the issue of soaring prices of the essential commodities and petroleum products thereby creating a burden to the people of the state asking the govt of Manipur to control the price of the essential items and punish those business man who are taking prices more than the cost of the item.  

IMPHAL, August 3: Imphal West district police continued to conduct cordon and search operations as part of the security measures taken up ahead of Independence Day celebration.