Voluntary bodies contact Leo's captors

IMPHAL, April 19: UNC president Paul Leo who was abducted by suspected KNF (MC) cadres from Keithelmanbi on April 17 is safe and sound in the custody of his captors, said reliable sources. For the second day today leaders and representatives of Kuki and Naga voluntary organisations held a meeting at the residence of Transport Minister Haokholet Kipgen. Inside sources said representatives of both Naga and Kuki organisations met KNF (MC) functionaries late last evening at an undisclosed place at Senapati and urged the under ground outfit to release the UNC chief unharmed and at the earliest possible. The representatives also met the UNC president. The representatives were drawn from the Kuki Baptist Church, MBC, KSO and Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills. The representatives pressed upon the KNF (MC) to release Paul Leo without any harm or preconditions to defuse the volatile and sensitive situation. The Kuki militants group is understood to have asked Paul Leo to intimate to the NSCN(IM) to cease hostilities against the KNF (MC) in his capacity as a Naga leader. Sources revealed that the abducted Naga leader personally wrote to the Shepamaroumth region of the NSCN(IM) to cease hostilities with the KNF (MC). The KNF (MC) is understood to have conveyed that Paul Leo would be released only after a reply is received from the Naga militant group. Through the representatives, Leo appealed to all to maintain communal harmony and not to be blinded by communal animosity. He assured the representatives that he is safe and sound and asked all to pray for his safety, said sources. Today's meeting resolved to again send feelers to the KNF (MC) to release Leo without any pre-condition considering the tension that is running high amongst the ragas and the Kukis. The meeting was presided by the president of KSO, Paokam Haokip. Meanwhile the DGP informed The Sangai Express that the security forces are still working overtime to trace the abducted UNC chief but added that little headway has been made. In the meantime many organisations have appealed for the safe and early release of UNC president K Paul Leo who was abducted by suspected Kuki militants near Keithelmanbi on April 16. In a joint appeal the president of Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, vice president of Tangkhul Naga Long and W Zingkhai of the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights have appealed for the safe and early release of K Paul Leo. The Mao Students' Union has also expressed shock over the abduction of the UNC president and said that the Nagas and Kukis have been rebuilding the process of peace and communal amity after a spate of ruthless violence in the last decade. Targeting civilian population by the armed persons will only derail the peace process, said the student body in a statement. The Manipur Committee for Social Causes has also condemned the abduction of the UNC chief and killing of the seven persons at Keithelmanbi and appealed for the immediate release of Paul Leo. The Meetei National Front, Western Area Chief Association, All Moyon Students' Union, Zeliangrong Students' Union and Zeliangrong Union have also appealed for Leo's release.