The Naga Peoples’ Union Imphal (NPUI) on Sunday strongly condemned the alleged kidnapping, confinement and physical assault of four Naga girls for ransom by unknown armed miscreants on December 12.
The four girls from Chandel including two from the Anal community and one each from Lamkang and Aimol community, reportedly working at a beauty parlour in Khongnang Ani Karak near India Bazaar, Imphal were forcibly kidnapped around noon by the miscreants demanding a ransom of around Rs 3-4 Lakh, alleged NPUI in a release signed by its president M Ngaranmi and secretary administration Daniel Leivon Lamkang.
It briefed the incident stating that the proprietor, which is the Anal lady and her three staff were picked up from their beauty parlour by 10-12 fully armed miscreants, who came in two vehicles and took them to Sawombung and Sekta area hillside. The miscreants allegedly threatened to kill them if they failed to pay the ransom amount, it stated.
However, the four girls were reportedly released around 6 pm from Sekta area on the same day after some of their local friends intervened and spoke with the leaders, it mentioned. It pointed out that the victim Aimol girl was allegedly physically assaulted and beaten black and blue, adding that she is currently undergoing medical treatments.
It maintained that even after the girls were released, the miscreants constantly called them, demanding to pay the ransom within two-three days, or else threatened to come to the parlour and kill them. Fearing for their lives, they have resolved to close the parlour, it added.
Meanwhile, a similar incident also took place on the same day where another seven girls of Naga, Tangkhul, Maring, Mao and Kabui communities, reportedly working in a beauty parlour at Chingmeirong near Vishal Mall, Imphal were also allegedly abducted by unknown armed miscreants between 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm, also for ransom, NPUI stated.
The armed miscreants including three females and five males came up to the parlour and pulled out a pistol and collected the mobile phones, Aadhaar cards of the girls including the parlour’s manager and proprietor and even took photos, videos and their mobile numbers forcibly, it accused.
It further went on to say that the miscreants allegedly abducted them at gunpoint, forced them inside a gypsy and took them to a jungle in Sekta area in Imphal East District. The miscreants allegedly physically assaulted the proprietor and manager using gun butts, sticks, lethal arms and even threatened to shoot their legs and kill them, it asserted.
It is said that the miscreants had demanded a sum of Rs 5 lakh from the Beauty Parlour and taken Rs 2 Lakh from them. NPUI condemned such frequent criminal activities and ransom carried out against innocent Naga girls who are working small jobs in Imphal and valley areas. It appealed to those concerned to refrain from harassing the Naga girls to avoid creating any kind of misunderstanding between the Nagas and Non-Naga communities in Imphal and Manipur.
It also urged the state government, the Manipur governor and the Union Home Ministry to intervene and immediately address the issue at the earliest by implementing a proper law and order to protect innocent lives and properties and for safety and security of Naga girls in future.
It further cautioned the Nagas running shops, beauty parlours, vendors and any kind of business to remain alert in wake of such incidents. It claimed that the Nagas residing in Imphal and valley areas are not safe and secure. It mooted whether such harassment, torture, discrimination etc. to the Nagas may be an indirect warning to Naga people, adding that many Nagas are living in fear psychosis and possible human rights violations.
It fervently urged all the CSOs of the non-Naga communities to extend their assistance and support to ensure peaceful co-existence among the various communities in the state in future. NPUI also added several mobile phone numbers of its grievance cell- 8974122842, 9436088062, 8798249191, 8974378616 and 9862816973.
