Five who filed cases against AR disappear

Imphal, June 11: Vungkhulal Chongloi, 46, the Congress candidate from Kangpokpi constituency in the last Assembly elections, along with four others was picked up by unidentified persons, believed to be security personnel, from two different places in the Imphal area in the wee hours today. Chongloi and three of the other four, who are described as relatives of the victims of security excesses that occurred in the aftermath of the May 27 Leplen village ambush, had yesterday filed a case with the Manipur Human Rights Commission in connection with the disappearance of a youth recently arrested by the Assam Rifles. According to reports, several unidentified armed men, some of them in civil dress and others in uniform made their way into Chongloi’s residence at New Lambulane at around 00.45 am tonight, apparently by climbing the compound wall, and took away Chongloi, his three teenage sons, Seput Chongloi, 17, Boipu Chongloi, 16 and Boilun, 14, and 70 years old Thangsat Hangsing after making a search of the house. The intruders neither identified themselves nor allowed any of the family to speak to them, the reports said. Vungkholal Chongloi’s three sons were later abandoned at the Tribal Colony area, but Chongloi and Thangsat Hangshing, were taken away by the unidentified persons. Hangshing, a resident of Phaibu village, was apparently staying at Chongloi’s residence in connection with his medical treatment. Thereafter, three villagers of Yangoi village, identified as Paotinlun Chongloi, 47, Kailal Chongloi, 39, and Paosei Hangshing were picked up from their lodgings at Langol, apparently by the same group. They were described as relatives of some atrocity victims who are still undergoing treatment at JN hospital. Vungkhulal Chongloi’s family members said they were well aware that the persons who took away Chongloi and the other four were Assam Rifles personnel, but the whereabouts of the five have not been made known till this evening. In this connection, a formal missing person report has been filed at the Porompat police station. The family has also asked the chief minister O Ibobi to take necessary measures for the safe release of the five persons. The family has also decided to file a case with the Manipur Human Rights Commission in this connection.