Fitting tributes paid to Lamyanba Hijam Irawat Efforts on to secure release of abducted youths : CM

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 30: The Director General of Police has been dispatched to negotiate and secure safe release of the two abducted Meitei youths, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh today.
He said this on the sideline of a programme held to celebrate the 128th birth anniversary of Jana Neta Hijam Irawat at Hijam Irawat Square, Imphal West.
Addressing media persons, the Chief Minister said the Centre and the State Government are putting in every effort to talk with the captors and secure safe release of two abducted Meitei youths.
Notably, three youths Ngangom Johnson, Oinam Thoithoi Singh and Thokchom Thoithoiba Singh were abducted by Kuki militants on September 27.
While Ngangom Johnson was released and rescued by the Army on September 28, the other two have not been released yet.
Responding to queries of the media, Chief Minister N Biren Singh today said the Centre and the State Governments are monitoring the situation closely and efforts are on to talk with the captors to secure the release of the two youths.
The Chief Minister said the DGP [Rajiv Singh] has been dispatched to the "district" to negotiate and secure the release.
"The abductors have made some demands. The Government is taking every effort to rescue and save the two. The DGP has been sent to the district. I believe that there will be a positive outcome," N Biren said, appealing to the families and the public to maintain calm.
He wished the people on Irawat Day and appealed to all to work together towards fulfilling Hijam Irawat's vision of a united Manipur.
It may be mentioned that Ngangom Johnson and the two--Oinam Thoithoi Singh and Thokchom Thoithoiba Singh--still in captivity of armed Kuki militants were travelling together when they were abducted by armed Kuki militants on September 27. All three of them are from Thoubal .
After Johnson was released and rescued by the Army and handed over to the police on September 28, he had said that he went to appear in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) General Duty recruitment test at 33 Assam Rifles at New Keithelmanbi.
He claimed the three of them were following Google Map and lost their way inside Kangpokpi district. Johnson claimed some people from the Kuki tribes found them and they were taken to a "camp" on a hill where he was beaten and then released later.