Manipuris want peace to return early

IMPHAL - Living in an environment where violence, abduction and bomb threats by militants have become order of the day, the common man in Manipur is feeling exasperated and wants peace to return early

The local residents are craving for enjoying little joys of a normal life.

On July 17, the 55-year-old E. Shyamkeshor Singh of Yaingangpokpi Mamang Leikai in Imphal was shot at after being abducted by four unidentified men.

Suspected militants made Shyamkeshor, a reader in Sericulture Department, and his wife accompany them from their residence.

On the way, the abductors had a tussle with Shyamkeshor and shot at him. he incident outraged local people, as they find it increasingly difficult for common man here to live in peace. The incident was condemned by the residents of Yaingangpokpi who also staged a sit-in-protest.

“Such dreadful incidents against innocent civilians are happening frequently. Extortion and kidnapping for ransom are common in the State. We find it very difficult to lead a normal life in this situation,” said E. Angouba Singh, victim’s brother.

In another incident in Imphal West, a hand grenade was hurled at the residence of Nameirakpam Surendra, an agriculture officer at the State Agriculture Department.

Police, however, managed to defuse the grenade before it could blow up and cause damage to life and property.

A grenade was found near the gate of Surendra. “Houses are located very close to one another in our neighborhood. If the grenade had exploded, it would have hurt innocent people. I condemn the cowardly act,” said N. Ekashini, wife of Nameirakpam Surendra.

Suspected Kuki militants abducted Dr. Kunal Chakraborty on July 20 from Molnom, about 145-kilometres from Imphal. He was taken to a jungle but he managed to flee from their captivity .

Dr. Chakraborty of Gobinda Ballav Pant Medical College in Agartala, had joined Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal a few months ago for a postgraduate degree course.

Decrying the incident, the students and doctors at RIMS hospital staged a sit-in protest to demand proper security for the medical staff.

“We do not expect kidnapping of a medical officer. We condemn the incident,” said Dr. Chhuanga, President of RIMS Post Graduate Students’ Union.

Militants in Manipur find abduction the easiest way of making money. Their aim seems to create fear among innocent people and survive on their money. he residents are coming in the open to condemn them. (ANI)