Officials under threat to be put up in a Safe House

Imphal, Jan 2 : MANIPUR GOVERNMENT has decided to accommodate state government employees under threats from the militants at the State Lottery Building located inside the 2nd battalion Manipur Rifles, Imphal.

With is government has declared the building which have been lying empty since the playing of the lottery suspended following ban imposed by a militants group some 10 years back as "Safe House" on December 27 and asked the state police chief appoint a police officer as designated officer to look after the security of the structure, an official source said Wednesday.

The government notification made available with this correspondent asked that the DGP to designate an officer, preferably the commandant 2nd MR to take-over the building and put into place arrangement for making the "safe house" operational.

It also asked government officials under threat to apply to the home department for temporary accommodation in the Safe House.

Officers accommodated at the said house will have to pay rent at the rate of Rs 100 per Day.

The amount so collected by the officer-in charge will be utilized for the management of the house, it added asking the police department to take up works for rejuvenation of the house and construct security structures like the sentry posts, entry gate, periphery fencing etc.

The measure has been taken up considering the increasing threats and kidnapping of government officers by the militants for ransom and other like for offering contract and supply works to the men sent out by the militants.

On January 31 two cases were registered at different police stations regarding kidnapping of an assistant engineer of the PWD named S Manjor who was later released on February 1.Another case was also registered in connection with the kidnapping of an AE of the state electricity department named Keshwor from his office at Kakching in Thoubal district.

He was also released after meeting the demand of the militants. In the month of February four cases of kidnapping were registered with the first case being on 18 February regarding kidnapping of an employee of the electricity department named Khomdon along with his wife by suspected Kuki militants.

They were later released on February 24. Out of the five cases registered during the month of March with the first case registered on the kidnapping of an AE of the minor irrigation department by suspected PULF at gunpoint from his house at Urup Arpati under Singjamei police station.

An assistant lineman of the electricity department was kidnapped by three suspected militants and released on April 1. Two kidnapping cases were taken by the police in the month of April.

A contractor named E Binodkumar was kidnapped by militants on March 28 for ransom and released on May 10.One AE named Munindro of IFCD was also kidnapped on April 29 and later released on May 6. A case related with the kidnapping of four official of the DRDA namely, L Sarat singh Singh, research assistant, N Maniyaima Singh, RI, W Iboyaima, assistant project officer along with a driver of a private car were kidnapped by some anti-social elements on their way from Chandel to Pallel on June 10. Two of the cases registered during the month of June were related with kidnapping of engineers of different departments while other related with the abduction of civilians and contractors by the suspected militants.

An executive engineer of the state electricity department named AK Nabachandra was kidnapped by suspected valley based militants from Singjamei Chingamakha on June 18 and he was released on June 20 .