Manipur: Gorkha man kidnapped by suspected militants released 'unconditionally'

IMPHAL: Tikaram Rizal, a man who had been kidnapped by suspected militants in Kalapahar village under Kangpokpi district of Manipur, has been released safely and unconditionally, reports said.

 

Rizal, a man belonging to the Gorkha community, was kidnapped by some unidentified armed persons on February 16 around 7 pm from his residence.

 

According to reports, Tikaram’s employer was getting ransom calls and messages on WhatsApp from the abductors.

 

Registering their protest, the people of Kalapahar village under Kangpokpi blocked the National Highway.

 

It was eventually called off after the Kangpokpi District Commissioner and police SP assured the protestors of 'urgent intervention.'

 

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The local protestors had given an ultimatum to intensify the stir if the victim was not rescued within 24 hours.

 

Subsequently, a Joint Action Committee was formed to look into the matter.

 

Such incidents are not too uncommon in the district, with several people claiming that they have been suffered at the hands of the militants.

 

Nearly three decades back, a certain Baale Bhujel of Kalapahar was killed brutally and buried alive. Similarly, one Vigyan Koirala from Kalapahar who had done an RTI regarding NREGS implementation was also threatened by various UG groups to withdraw his RTI.

 

Such cases of kidnapping, extortions, and threats have become an everyday affair for the underground outfits.