Imphal, July 6: A new armed outfit has surfaced in Manipur, announcing that it has taken a senior government official hostage. The new outfit ? named Human Rights and Protection Guild ? has accused Kaphunchung L. Kamei, the deputy director of the Manipur commerce and industry department, of corruption. It has been holding him captive for the past five days.
The official went missing from his Imphal residence on Thursday. The group?s spokesman said the official was not taken hostage for ransom but for his alleged involvement in malpractices.
The abduction came to light only after the group announced from somewhere in Ukhrul district yesterday that the official was in its custody. The outfit accused Kamei of misappropriating Rs 5 crore, provided by the Union textiles ministry for implementing the Din Dayal scheme, in collusion with ministers and other officials.
The spokesman asked those involved in corrupt practices to surrender to the group on or before July 15. The outfit claimed that the deputy director and his associates took bribes from beneficiaries while distributing the fund to societies.
The group said its objective was to root out corruption and had nothing to do with Manipur?s ?freedom struggle?, unlike many other militant outfits. This group was floated nearly two years back. The spokesman added that the official would not be freed immediately.