IMPHAL, May 11: Kh Tondonba of Pukhao Naharup Awang Leikai who was kidnapped by suspected KNF-D cadres on May 3 last was released yesterday unconditionally and is now safe and sound with his family.
During a press meet held in this regard today in the presence of Tondonba, JAC convenor Okram Saratchandra lauded member of district council of Churachandpur, Churachandpur Meitei Society, CCPur Village Chief, ICHAM, United Pukhao Area Committee, Pukhoa Meira Paibi and Kuki organisations of Pukhao for their support.
Tondonba narrated that he was kidnapped at gun point on May 3 by five unidentified armed men. He was made to walk most of the time in the hilly terrain and he was blind folded from time to time. He said that the whole seven days he was made to move from places to places most of the time but he was not ill treated and well fed. He said he was also told that he was kidnapped for a ransom from the contractor but nothing will happen to him.
He said that after getting information that their ransom will be served from the contractor he was released yesterday at around 4pm. He said that after his release he found his way to the contractor’s residence from where he contacted his family. He said his mobile phone was not returned by the suspected UG cadres.
Joel Phaltual, son of MDC Churachandpur P Khamkholal who was also present at the press meet said that the ransom is yet to be paid. He said that being a local of Churachandpur and neighbour of the contractor he put pressure on the suspected UG group for his release on the phone. He said that it was the joint pressure to the UG group from different communities that resulted in freeing of Tondonba.