IMPHAL, May 25 � A Manipur Sericulture employee has been kidnapped and a ransom of Rs 1 crore demanded for his safe release by an underground group operating in the State, according to an official source.
The employee has been identified as N Nabakumar (51) of Luwangshangbam in Imphal West district. He was working in the Sericulture farm.
Following the incident, the All Manipur Sericulture Employees� Association staged a sit-in-protest here and met the Sericulture Minister L Jayenta on Monday for necessary action in connection with the incident. The Minister assured the Association to assist in every possible ways.
According to official information, Nabakumar left his home for office on May 20 in a Pulsar bike but did not return home. On May 21, the Sericulture department got information that he had been kidnapped by an underground group which demanded Rs 50 lakhs as ransom initially. The amount was subsequently increased to Rs 1 crore for the delay in handing over the initial amount of demand, it added.
Appealing for the safe release of her husband, Nabakumar�s wife Methoi Devi urged the underground group not to victimise her husband due to the department�s liability, if any.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, an oil pump employee was shot by three unidentified armed persons at Hiyangthang under Imphal West district last night.
The victim identified as S Dubra (27) of Mongsangei, an employee of Mayailambi Service station at Hiyangthang was sleeping when the three intruders walked in at about 11.10 pm. He was called outside and shot in his left leg and abdomen.
