IMPHAL, March 29? Kidnapped Deputy Commissioner of Manipur?s Chandel district, Yambem Thamkishore was today released by underground NSCN (I-M), district superintendent of police P Dhanakumar said. Dhanakumar told PTI over phone from Chandel that Thamkishore was freed by the kidnappers at a place near Chandel. The SP said he did not know on what condition the NSCN (I-M) released Thamkishore who had been kidnapped from Chandel area on March 18.
As a condition to release Thamkishore, the NSCN (I-M) had earlier demanded return of the arms captured by India Reserve battalion personnel after an encounter with NSCN (I-M) activists at Pallel area in the district on March 16, official sources said. Various organisations had appealed to the Prime Minister and Home Minister to put pressure on the outfit to free the Deputy Commissioner. The Centre and NSCN (I-M) were now engaged in talks to bring peace in Nagaland, sources added. When asked to comment on what condition Thamkishore was released, official sources said the Centre and NSCN (I-M) had discussed about the kidnapping of the Deputy Commissioner and after that the latter was freed.
Sources could not say what understanding the two parties had reached on the kidnapping issue. Sources also refused to comment when asked whether the arm captured by the IRB personnel have been returned to the NSCN (I-M) or not. Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had earlier urged the Centre to give a written directive to the state government on what to do to secure release of the kidnapped Deputy Commissioner, official sources said.