Imphal, March 08, 2010: In a successful and surgical operation launched by the troops of Red Shield Division today, Longjam Basanta, Principal of Ireima Evergreen English School located at Ikou bazar at Saikul, who had been kidnapped by cadres of a Kuki UG group under SoO agreement was rescued by troops of 36 Assam Rifles.

A press release from PIB (DW) stated that Basanta had been kidnapped and was being held as a hostage against a demand of rupees one lakh for his safe
release.

On obtaining the information of his whereabouts, troops of 36 Assam Rifles
launched an operation and homed in on a house at Pangmol, near Motbung where the UGs had held the hostage.

An Alto car, registration number MN 01 A 4160, which had been used during
the kidnapping of Basanta, was also seized in the operation and handed over
to Saparmaina Police Station along with the kidnappers.

Basanta has expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for the quick
efforts taken by the troops of 57 mountain Division to secure his safety,
the press release stated.

On the other hand, Basanta told media-persons at his house today that some
unknown persons came to his house last night around 11 pm and called him out of the house saying that they needed to talk with him.

He was taken to Chalkot village on Imphal-Kanglatongbi road around midnight.

They landed at the house of the village chief, and made the family prepare
food for them.

After having food, he was taken up the hill where they spent the night.

Next morning a senior leader of KNF arrived there and told him to pay rupees one lakh before March 13, Saturday with the warning that if he fails to pay, it would not be good for him, and set him free, he told the media-persons.

Villagers staged a sit-in-protest against the kidnapping of Basanta at Ikou
bazar today.

Source: Hueiyen News Service

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