A peaceful sit-in demonstration was held at Charhajare and various other places in Manipur Monday in protest against the alleged abduction of one person by unknown armed miscreants on Sunday afternoon from Charhajare in Kangpokpi district.
A Joint Action Committee against the abduction of one 29-year-old Roshan Uprety hailing from Charhajare village was formed Monday to spearhead the movement for his safe release without any condition.
The JAC had earlier decided to impose bandhs and a blockade if the abducted person was not released by 6:30 pm Monday.
However, considering the concerns of the district administration, district police and the support and cooperation of the Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi and various CSOs of the district, the JAC decided to give another 24 hours ultimatum for the safe release of the abducted person.
JAC chairman Mani Kumar Sarki said if Roshan Uprety is not released even after the extended ultimatum, then the JAC will take an extreme decision in consultation with all the CSOs of Kangpokpi.
Apart from the protest at the victim's village Charhajare, protests were also held at Serou, Kalapahar, Moreh, Leimakhong, Motbung, and other places by the All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union of the respective units.
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The JAC along with various other Gorkha civil bodies also resolved to take further course of action in case Roshan is not released within the stipulated time. It demanded the state government set up a commando post at Charhajare village for the safety of the public and to prevent such unwanted incidents in the future.
The JAC further informed all the Gorkha civil bodies, including the All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union Manipur and its units, to organise a peaceful dharna at different locations and close down all business establishments in their respective areas.
Various Gorkha civil bodies, including the All Manipur Gorkha Ex-Servicemen (Defence and CAPF) Association, the All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union and the Navin Gorkha Youth Club Charhajare condemned the abduction of Roshan and demanded his safe release.
Speaking to the media, Sunita Uprety, wife of Roshan, said that her husband has been a differently-abled person owing to a major operation and he was also not well before he was abducted.
She said he did not have food for the past few days before he was abducted on Sunday afternoon and appealed to the abductors for his safe release, considering his physical condition and the future of his two minor innocent daughters.
Sunita also recalled that on October 15, some miscreants numbering around four-five came in a white car and one of them entered their house and enquired about her husband. He left after she told him that her husband was unwell and asleep.
Roshan was kidnapped the next day, Sunday, at around 6:30 pm from Charhajare bazar, just a stone's throw away from his residence, she said.
JAC spokesperson Vigyan Koirala said that the minority Gorkha community has been facing various hardships in Charhajare over the past many years and the abduction of Roshan is not the first such incident in the area.
