- 4 with Myanmar army


Imphal, March 22: Four villagers were arrested and a truckload of timber seized by Myanmarese army from Ukhrul earlier this month prompting the state government to consider approaching the Centre on the issue.

Villagers of Kangpat Khunou, bordering Myanmar, lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul, Ashok Kumar, a few days back alleging that Myanmarese soldiers intruded into their village in Kamjong subdivision on the morning of March 8 and took away four villagers, including a college teacher.

They drove away a truck loaded with timber.

The Myanmarese army charged the four with stealing timber from their country — an allegation the villagers denied.

The arrested four, Ngalo Ningshen, 40, Themson Chitung, 38, Sangreiyo Keishing, 18, and Manurim Keishing, 14, are yet to be freed by the Myanmarese army. They are believed to be either in army custody or in Tamu jail.

“We have not received any complaint or report about the arrest. We will seek a report from the Ukhrul superintendent of police. If the report is true, the matter will be taken up at the government level,” the director-general of police Yumnam Joykumar Singh said today.

Officials in the home department here said they have not received any report from the district administration either.

The Ukhrul superintendent of police was not available for comment.

An official source in the deputy commissioner’s office, however, confirmed that the villagers had lodged a complaint a few days back.

The source said the deputy commissioner has sent a report about the complaint.

When pointed out that the home department officials here were yet to receive the report, the official said: “We will soon send a similar report to the home department for taking necessary action.”

An official source here said once the report from the district administration reaches, the state government would appraise the matter to the Centre.

One of the arrested, Ningshen, teaches zoology at Pettigrew College in Ukhrul.

Teachers of the college today held a meeting about the action to be taken.

“We have discussed the matter today and we are planning to submit a memorandum to the chief minister shortly. We are concerned about our colleague’s safety. Since he was with the Myanmarese army we could not do anything. We will submit a memorandum to the chief minister urging him to secure the release of our colleague,” Ersi Jajo, a lecturer of the college, said over phone.

Nimaichand Luwang, president of Manipur People’s Party, today said the party would gather detailed information on the arrest and take it up with the external affairs ministry.