Unending violence instills fear among Manipuris

IMPHAL - Unabated militant-led violence, extortions, blasts and killings have created an atmosphere of insecurity among the people of Manipur.

Militant outfits have also abducted people for ransom, instilling fear in the minds of Manipuris.

Earlier on February 13, the militant cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party Military Council abducted Moriangthem Boboy, an employee of a private security company, from Kumbi Bazar in Thoubal district for a ransom of Rs five crores. He was working for BCL Security Private Limited that provides security to the mobile towers.

Proscribed KCP-MC has taken responsibility for the incident and has threatened residents of the area with harsh consequences if they associate themselves with private telecom companies.

The angry residents of the area staged a sit in protest at the Kumbi Bazar under the aegis of Kumbi Apunba Nupi Lup and Kumbi Kendra Women Welfare Association demanding safe release of the victim.

“As a mother of the victim, I request the officials of the company to negotiate with the abductors and arrange for the safe release of my son. With folded hands I pray for my son’s life and request them to forgive my son,” said Boboy’s mother Surjamani Devi.

“We have staged this protest to appeal for Boboy’s safe release, as he has not done anything wrong. We request the abductors to consider our appeal and release him,” added Apunba Lup President Tombi Devi.

The abduction of Kh Boboy Singh was the second incident within a week, where employees of the telecom sector in Manipur were targeted.

The cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party Military Council abducted Kh Boboy Singh of Nachou Makha Leikai on February 2. His dead body was later found near Nelpa village.

Angry residents of Nachou Makha Leikai formed a joint action committee and blocked the National Highway 150 at Nachou Panthong.

The committee later gave their demands to the authorities that included compensation of Rs 15 lakh to the family of the deceased and a permanent government job to one of the family members.

They also submitted a memorandum to Manipur Chief Minister through Bishnupur District Collector, and have planned to block the NH-150 indefinitely, if the JAC’s demand is not met immediately.

“Now my son is no more. I am too old to look after my grand children. I don’t know why they have done this,” said Kh Boboy Singh’s mother Kh Thoibi.

“We came to know that he was abducted for ransom from Aircel Company. So our JAC and the members of his family have spoken to the company. We are also scared that whether he is alive or dead,” added Joint Action Committee General Secretary N Jadumani Singh.

In yet another incident, suspected militants lobbed a grenade at the residence of Chongtham Ranbir, Executive Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department.

The blast left one person dead and four injured. Among the injured were two security personnel and two local carpenters. They were shifted to the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences.

“We were inside the room. The person who died had gone to clear the dustbin. And at that time the grenade was thrown and he died in the blast,” said an injured security personnel.

The people here are fed up with this instability and want the miltant groups to give up violence and join the mainstream so that development of the state can take place. (ANI)