Veteran Journalist Yambem Laba Abducted by Meitei militants, Later Released

VETERAN JOURNALIST and Special Correspondent of The Statesman, Yambem Laba, was abducted by a group of around 20 armed gunmen from his residence in Imphal at around 3 a.m. today. He was released after several hours in captivity.

According to a complaint filed with the Officer-in-Charge of Imphal Police Station by his brother, retired Army Major Yambem Angamba Singh, the 69-year-old journalist was taken just hours after speaking to a local television channel about the proliferation of armed groups in Manipur, The Statesman reports.

The abduction took place shortly after the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who has been accused of playing a partisan role in the state’s ethnic conflict. His administration, criticized for its failure to curb violence, has also faced allegations of allowing civilians to raid police armories and seize lethal weapons.