Students Detained
Civilians made scapegoats after UG clashes:
Imphal, Dec 24: Fifteen passengers of an inter-state bus heading for Guwahati, including students and teachers of a private school, were abducted by armed militants near Sapermeina on NH-39 and detained for a few hours on Sunday afternoon.
The abduction took place apparently as a consequence of a shootout between cadres of some underground groups last night near Nongpok Keithelmanbi, and the abducted persons were released reportedly after an understanding was reached among the groups involved.
The abducted passengers included eight students and a teacher of the Hundred Flowers School, Pangei, who were leaving on an excursion trip to Sikkim. All the abducted passengers belong to the Meitei community.
According to other passengers travelling on the same vehicle, a tourist bus operated by GG Travels, the vehicle were stopped by armed gunmen at a lonely spot on NH-39 just beyond Sapermeina, and the Meitei male passengers singled out and detained at gunpoint.
The passenger bus was carrying 21 students of the Hundred Flowers School, Pangei along with two teachers, and 15 other passengers.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who were at least four in number, forced the driver of the vehicle to drive to a diversion road leading to Bungmual village. About half a kilometre from the main road, the bus was stopped and all the passengers were forced to get down.
All Meitei males were gathered together, and the rest of the passengers told to get back on the bus and leave the spot immediately.
The gunmen openly told the other passengers that the Meiteis were being held because their fellow cadres were being detained by a Meitei-dominated underground group following a shootout last night, and they would be released only if their cadres were released.
After leaving the spot, the tourist bus returned to Imphal, and informed the authorities of the abduction.
In the meantime, after being detained for about two hours, the 15 abducted passengers were told by their captors that they were free to go and that an understanding had been reached with the other underground group involved in last night`s encounter.
The passengers thereafter walked back to the main road, where they were soon picked up by a team led by minister N Biren and representatives of the UCM.
The abducted Hundred Flowers students were identified as Tomba, Hidesh, Punshiba, Rajesh, Inao, Bhagat, Prem and Rishikanta.
The others abducted along with them included one Deven of Awang Khunou, Romesh of Meihoubam, Bonikumar of Thounaojam Yangdong, Thouba of Uripok Haobam Devan Leikai, and three others from Kangpokpi, namely Khamba, Kula and Sharat.
Earlier, upon hearing of their abduction, minister N Biren and UCM president Lanngamba immediately rushed to the area.
Police reinforcements from Imphal were also sent, but by the time they reached, it was learnt that the abducted passengers had already been released.
The UCM president said victimising of civilians and students and using as human shield was condemnable, and appealed that such incidents should not be repeated in future.
N Biren also stressed the need for all sections to avoid taking any actions that would result in heightening of communal tensions.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Another Story:
Imphal, Dec 24: Fifteen passengers of an inter-state bus heading for Guwahati, including students and teachers of a private school, were abducted by armed militants near Sapermeina on NH-39 and detained for a few hours on Sunday afternoon.
The abduction took place apparently as a consequence of a shootout between cadres of some underground groups last night near Nongpok Keithelmanbi, and the abducted persons were released reportedly after an understanding was reached among the groups involved.
The abducted passengers included eight students and a teacher of the Hundred Flowers School, Pangei, who were leaving on an excursion trip to Sikkim. All the abducted passengers belong to the Meitei community.
According to other passengers travelling on the same vehicle, a tourist bus operated by GG Travels, the vehicle were stopped by armed gunmen at a lonely spot on NH-39 just beyond Sapermeina, and the Meitei male passengers singled out and detained at gunpoint.
The passenger bus was carrying 21 students of the Hundred Flowers School, Pangei along with two teachers, and 15 other passengers.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, who were at least four in number, forced the driver of the vehicle to drive to a diversion road leading to Bungmual village. About half a kilometre from the main road, the bus was stopped and all the passengers were forced to get down.
All Meitei males were gathered together, and the rest of the passengers told to get back on the bus and leave the spot immediately.
The gunmen openly told the other passengers that the Meiteis were being held because their fellow cadres were being detained by a Meitei-dominated underground group following a shootout last night, and they would be released only if their cadres were released.
After leaving the spot, the tourist bus returned to Imphal, and informed the authorities of the abduction.
In the meantime, after being detained for about two hours, the 15 abducted passengers were told by their captors that they were free to go and that an understanding had been reached with the other underground group involved in last night`s encounter.
The passengers thereafter walked back to the main road, where they were soon picked up by a team led by minister N Biren and representatives of the UCM.
The abducted Hundred Flowers students were identified as Tomba, Hidesh, Punshiba, Rajesh, Inao, Bhagat, Prem and Rishikanta.
The others abducted along with them included one Deven of Awang Khunou, Romesh of Meihoubam, Bonikumar of Thounaojam Yangdong, Thouba of Uripok Haobam Devan Leikai, and three others from Kangpokpi, namely Khamba, Kula and Sharat.
Earlier, upon hearing of their abduction, minister N Biren and UCM president Lanngamba immediately rushed to the area.
Police reinforcements from Imphal were also sent, but by the time they reached, it was learnt that the abducted passengers had already been released.
The UCM president said victimising of civilians and students and using as human shield was condemnable, and appealed that such incidents should not be repeated in future.
N Biren also stressed the need for all sections to avoid taking any actions that would result in heightening of communal tensions.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Another Story: