IMPHAL, May 19: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights and Manipur Mahila Kalyan Samiti have made a joint appeal to the concern group to release the two boys Moirangthem Sakhenba, 13 and Yaikhom Kumdumba, 11 safely at the earliest.
The two who are students of Lilasing High School and staying at the Children Home, Dewlahland, run by Manipur Mahila Kalyan Samiti had failed to return either to the children`™s home or to their respective homes since May 9. They have remained traceless ever since, leading to apprehensions that they might have been kidnapped.
Speaking at a press conference today, MACR convenor Keisham Pradeep Kumar asserted that this is not the first of such incidents happening in the State and it is high time that the Social Welfare department form a Child Protection Committee.
Manipur being a conflict State, there is high possibilities that the two have either been recruited as child soldiers or been victims of child trafficking, he said.
The two boys are still in their tender age, he continued.
The two organisations also strongly appealed to the government to take up immediate measure to trace the whereabouts of the duo.
N Jamini, secretary told the media persons that if the concern group did not release the duo before May 25, the two organisation along with civil organisations will launch a strong agitation.