Former ZB president Athuan Abonmai found shot dead

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 22 : Former president of Zeliangrong Baudi Athuan Abonmai who was abducted earlier in the day by suspected cadres of the NSCN (IM) today was found shot dead near a stone crushing unit near Palong village and Lalamba village between Tamei and Tamenglong in the evening.
Athuan Abonmai had left home located at Langol Tarung, Garce Colony yesterday to attend the community outreach programme of the Government to bring equal development in both the hills and valley. The programme was held at Tamenglong.
The lifeless body of Athuan Abonmai is scheduled to be brought back home tomorrow.
According to a highly placed source, Abonmai was abducted by about 20 suspected cadres of the NSCN (IM) from the gate of the ground where the outreach programme of the Government was scheduled to be held.
As news that he has been whisked away spread, police launched a massive manhunt but they were unable to trace his whereabouts.
Unofficial report said that as news of his abduction started doing the round, the matter has been put up before the Union Home Ministry.
According to a well placed source, as difference between the late Athuan Abonmai and the NSCN (IM) grew in intensity, he had been urged by his well wishers not to visit Tamenglong district since the last two years.
Even for the outreach programme he was urged not to attend the same as the threat perception still hang heavy.
The NSCN (IM) and the Government of India only recently resumed the peace dialogue which has been kept in the backburner for some time now.
The Joint Tribes Council had earlier urged whoever is responsible for abducting Abonmai to release him ‘safely  at the earliest on  humanitarian ground’.
In a statement, JTC said earlier that it has learnt that some unknown persons had reportedly abducted Athuan Abonmai from Tamenglong and urged the responsible people to release him at the earliest.