Abducted Naga leader released

IMPHAL, April 21: The prominent Naga leader, K S Paul Leo who was in captivity of the banned Kuki National Front (Military Council) since April 17, has been finally released safe and sound today. Mention may be made here that K S Paul Leo who is the president of the United Naga Council (UNC), an apex body of the Naga tribes in Manipur, was abducted by the KNF (MC) militants on April 17 afternoon near Keithelmanbi along the National Highway-39 in Senapati district. The Naga leader, Paul, was received by a team of social activists comprising both Nagas and Kukis residing in the State at Keitheimanbi in the wee hour today. Soon after reaching Keithelmanbi, Paul met the State Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam around 9.30 am and appreciated the efforts taken up by the State authority for maintaining peace and harmony among the two communities in particular. Later, taking to the mediapersons this afternoon here at the official residence of Tribal Development Minister Haokholet Kiagen who spearheaded the negotiation team, Paul Leo said that he was not given any sort of harassment by the militants during his captivity. While in their captivity, the militants and the Naga leader continuously held talks in connection with the prevailing tension between the two communities, after the communal clash way back in the early nineties. The Tribal Development Minister, Haokholet Kipgen a Kuki leader and Sericulture Minister, L Jonathan (a Naga leader), later talking to the mediapersons, appreciated the relentless efforts taken up by the Chief Minister for the release of Paul Leo from the hands of the Kuki militants.