IMPHAL, November 27: A man who had allegedly taken away three children with the promise to enrol the three children for NCC training, to provide Rs 1000 as stipend/day and to make them the Chief Minister’s security escort on passing out from the training had been arrested by Imphal west police commandos on November 23, from the Moreh parking area, claimed family members of the three children.
The claim was made this evening during a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club, which was also attended by members of the Joint Action Committee for rescue of innocent three boys formed in connection with the incident.
Speaking at the conference, family members of the children identified the man as Nongmaithem Napolean, 25, s/o Amuba of Kumbi Lai Achouba and further added that he was arrested along with explosive devices by the commando team.
The family further identified the three children as Wahengbam Hemjit, 17, s/o Jadumani, Pukhrmabam Ibungoton, 15, s/o P Kumar and Wahengbam Ibochouba, 15, s/o W Sanajaoba all residents of Kumbi Kangjeibung Mapal.
Briefing on the issue, the family members informed media persons that Napolean who is from their own locality used to work as a salesman at a Pharmacy at Porompat area and that the family members of the children came to know of his arrest only through media reports on November 24 that Napolean along with two individuals were arrested for their involvement in recruiting children to militant outfits, he added.
Further according to him, the family members on November 25 went to the Kumbi police station and checked with the official reports and on confirmation the family members lodged a missing complaint of the three children the same day.
The families further returned back to their locality and informed the local public and village authorities and immediately, locals of the Kumbi Kangjeibung Mapal formed the JAC and decided to submit a memorandum to the state government and to find the three missing children at the earliest, he informed.
The family members along with the JAC members arrived in Imphal today at around 1pm and tried to meet the Chief Minister, however they were stopped on their way, he added.
However the police took the family members and some JAC members to the Imphal Police Station and assured them to hand over their missing children at the earliest.