Two Manipur govt officials kidnapped

Two Manipur government officials of the Horticulture Department have been kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants from an interior village of Senapati district.
The officials, identified as Farm Manager Priyokumar Singh and Assistant Officer Horticulture Department W Ibopishak Singh, were abducted from Kanglatongbi area, about 30 Kms north of here while they were returning to Imphal from Mao, about 45 Kms north of here, yesterday, official sources said.
The incident is second in past ten days.
Seven persons including two senior engineers of Irrigation and Flood Control Department were kidnapped on August 1 but were released three days later.
Kidnapping of the seven persons appeared to be related with the monetary demand but it was not known whether the officials had paid any money, sources said.

While efforts were on to trace the whereabouts of the two kidnapped persons, no one has claimed responsibility for the act.