NSCN(I-M) abducts, frees candidate

A day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Tamenglong district headquarters

A day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Tamenglong district headquarters, NSCN (I-M) cadres abducted an Independent candidate from the constituency in the wee hours today. Khantuanang Panmei, who was abducted after his supporters entered in a scuffle with NSCN(I-M) cadres, was released later in the day.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address an election meeting there on Sunday. Tamenglong, along with Churachandpur and Chandel districts, goes to the polls on February 23.

Sources said Panmei was released around 6 pm on Saturday. This was after K Padmanabaiah, one of the main interlocutors in the peace talks between the NSCN (I-M) leadership and the Government of India, intervened. Sources said, Padmanabaiah intervened after the state government contacted the PMO.

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Police said the abduction took place around 1 am on Saturday.

Panmei is one of the five candidates contesting from Tamenglong and is regarded as the strongest challenge to United Naga Council (UNC)-sponsored Independent candidate and sitting MLA Samuel Jendai.

The UNC had earlier asked all Naga candidates to resign from their parties and make themselves eligible for selection by the UNC, after signing a declaration.