Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, May 3 (EMN): The two persons – an oil tanker driver and his handyman – who were abducted near Helipong village in Tuensang district on April 22 were released safely after nearly ten days in captivity on Thursday.
The abducted driver and handyman's release comes after efforts from the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organisation (ENPO) to secure their safe release for days. The president of ENPO, Khoiwang Konyak told
Eastern Mirror over the phone that the duo was handed over to them on Thursday at around 1.30 am.
"The ENPO on the request of Tuensang district administration had a meeting with the police, administration and Assam Rifles on April 29 in Tuensang after which we were assigned to initiate for the release of the two abducted persons," he informed.
Members of ENPO left Tuensang on April 30, nearly one week after their abduction, in an effort to secure the safe release of the two. "The two were handed over to ENPO in safe and sound condition after matter was settled amicably," maintained Konyak.
The organisation president also reiterated the ENPO’s Dec. 18, 2007 Tuensang Resolution wherein the citizens of Eastern Nagaland declared to oppose any form of violence, threats, intimidations or bloodshed within its jurisdiction.
The Tuensang abduction had led to indefinite shut down of fuel outlets and ‘chakka bandh’ of oil tankers on April 30 called by the Kohima Petroleum Dealers Association (KPDA), Dimapur Petroleum Dealers Association (DPDA), Nagaland Tanker Transport Association (NTTA) and the Oil Tanker Drivers’ Union (OTDU). The shutdown was revoked on May 1.
