Nagaland : Members of a Trekking Team from Manipur Detained for Straying

Guwahati: Eight memebers including two girls of a trekking team from Manipur was remanded in a two day police custody by a local cout in Nagaland.

The arrested youth were part of a 15-member trekking team which went from Imphal to Dzuku valley located between the two States. The trek was organised as part of the 10-day Sangai festival in Manipur.

Talking about the incident, Bijoy Kakchingtabam, president of Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association, said,“The trekking team left Imphal on November 23 for the valley. On November 26, a wildfire surrounded them and the terrified trekkers ran for their lives. Eight of them fled towards Nagaland while the remaining seven safely reached Mao, the border town of Manipur." He further added that members of Angami Youth Organisation in Nagaland “arrested” the trekkers and handed them over to the police. On learning of these developments, Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh rang up his Nagaland counterpart, Neiphiu Rio requesting him to set them free, but his request was ignored by the authourities.

Officials said that Manipur DGP L.M. Khaute also spoke to his Nagaland counterpart over the phone.

Stating that despite assurances being reportedly given for their release, they were remanded in police custody,the officials said shocking charges are being “fabricated against the trekkers” who are from Manipur.

“We had demanded unconditional release of the trekkers within 24 hours. This has been ignored. We will chalk out our plan for their release,” said. Kakchingtabam

Kakchingtabam further urging the State Government to take up the matter with the Government of Nagaland so as to secure safe release of all the eight mountaineers, said that intense modes of agitation would be launched in association with CSOs if the eight mountaineers are not released within 24 hours.

It may be mentioned that this is not the first instance of visitors to the Dzuku valley being arrested in Nagaland. A few decades ago, some forest department officials and local guides were arrested in Nagaland when they took a short cut via the State to reach the valley as the Manipur road leading to it was not in a good condition.

Also Read: Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio Appeals People to Deal with Tourists Carefully