CCpur, May 6 : Pointing out the rising cases of abduction, eleven tribe leaders from Churachandpur today petitioned the Chief Minister to initiate strong measures to curb such criminal activities.
The petition signed by presidents of Simte Tribe Council, United Zou Organisation, Hmar Inpui, Vaiphei Peoples’ Council, Gangte Tribe Council, Kuki Inpi, Churachandpur, Mate Tribe Council, Thangkhal People’s Organisation, and Mizo People Convention called on the Chief Minister to put an immediate end to the rising trend of abduction for ransom by some criminals in the district.
Relating the incidents of abduction, the petition recounted how two workers identified as Muanthang and Suanmang were abducted from their worksite in the month of March for monetary demand and how they were barely saved by the intervention of the CSOs.
About a month later Thangsianbiak alias Biabiak Zou, the PRO of Singngat MLA GS Haupu was again abducted by a hitherto unknown outfit called the Tribal Revolutionary Army for a ransom of Rs 70 lakh. His whereabouts and the condition of his life still remains a mystery to this day, it said.
Even as the CSOs worked tirelessly to secure his safe release, Khumanthem Tondonba Singh of Pukhao Naharup Awang Leikai, a JCB driver of special contractor T Lala Vaiphei was again abducted on May 3 from a worksite near Bongbal village. A monetary demand of another Rs 70 lakh was served for his safe release, it added.
Arguing that the repeated incidents of abduction for ransom are testament to the culture of inhumanity and violence prevailing in the district, the tribe leaders urged the State Government to initiate stringent measures to check such wanton acts. The incidents also amplify the failure of the State Government to protect and safeguard the lives of its citizens who are now at the mercy of unknown and hitherto unheard outfits which continually resort to such criminal activities, they said.
It therefore urged the Government to adopt strong measures to curb criminal activities; secure the safe release of the abducted persons; deal with the situation in the best interest of the general public and nab the culprits at the earliest and award befitting punishment as per the law of the land.
Meanwhile, the Zomi Students’ Federation has also strongly condemned the abduction of Thangsianbiak alias Biabiak Zou by the TRA and JCB driver Tondonba Singh by unknown miscreants, both for ransom. The student body said there are earlier occasions when communal clashes erupted due to extortion, harassment and dominating attitude by a particular armed group on the community and appealed to the group concerned to release their captives unharmed to avoid misunderstanding among different communities in the district.
