Google Maps led me astray, says Meitei man who returned after abduction; Manipur DGP begins talks for release of 2 others

Chief Minister N Biren Singh connected Monday said the constabulary main was tasked with going to Kangpokpi to undertake the negotiations. Of the demands made by the abductors, the CM lone said that they wanted Kuki-Zomi inmates of Imphal’s Sajwa Jail to beryllium transferred elsewhere.

He did not remark connected reports that 1 of the halfway demands is the merchandise of Mark T Haokip, the self-proclaimed president of a radical that aims for a abstracted Kuki nation. He was arrested from New Delhi connected May 24, 2022, and is presently nether NIA custody.

“Until they are released safely, we cannot accidental anything, but we’re trying our champion to merchandise them unharmed,” said Singh. He said the purpose was for the 2 youths to beryllium released “unconditionally”.

As portion of the efforts to unafraid their release, elder information officials confirmed that discussions successful Kangpokpi, led by the DGP, took spot connected Monday.

The 3 young men who were allegedly abducted are Ningombam Johnson Singh, Oinam Thoithoi Singh, and Thokchom Thoithoiba Singh from Thoubal territory successful the Meitei-majority valley.

Johnson was released that time itself, portion a video of the different 2 men successful captivity surfaced connected Saturday nighttime successful which they could beryllium heard appealing to Biren Singh to assistance the abductors’ demands and guarantee their release.

The CM said connected Monday, “The authorities is trying to merchandise them unconditionally and unharmed… One has already been released unharmed. The authorities authorities and cardinal authorities are some moving precise hard to rescue them safely and we are besides sending the DGP to the territory to speech with the concerned, truthful that some tin beryllium released unharmed.”

Johnson, who was released, spoke to the media, saying the 3 of them had been stopped and taken distant to a secluded spot aft they accidentally strayed into the Keithelmanbi country successful Kangpokpi portion they were utilizing Google Maps to get to New Keithelmanbi successful Imphal West district.

“I looked up the venue connected Google Maps. However, we realised that we had strayed into the Kuki country wherever we were stopped by Kuki women people who questioned wherever we were going. From there, we were blindfolded and taken to a secluded spot and held captives by immoderate men. I was kept separately from the 2 others,” helium said.

Thangtinlen Haokip from the Committee connected Tribal Unity, a civilian nine radical based successful Kangpokpi, said the main request from those who took them captive is the moving of the inmates from the Imphal jail.

“They (the 3 men) had crossed the buffer enactment and entered into our country that day and were taken captive by volunteers. Since we, the leaders and the SoO groups (militant groups nether Suspension of Operations statement with the government), were coming nether unit from everyone, we released 1 of the captives. Now, we are having meetings to sermon however they should beryllium released,” helium said.

“The DGP came and determination were precise heated discussions, but we privation the inmates successful the jailhouse to beryllium moved to determination successful the elevation areas truthful that they tin slumber successful peace. The police, jailors – everyone are Meiteis and they are not harmless there,” Haokip said.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed aft the abduction of the men met the Chief Minister connected Monday.

“CM Biren assured that the missing youths would beryllium rescued unharmed. For this, the DGP is camping successful Kangpokpi… The JAC besides made wide that we would intensify our antiauthoritarian forms of protests if the authorities fails to unrecorded up to its assurance,” said JAC convenor Lourembam Subol.