Ignoring an appeal made by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to his Nagaland counterpart Neiphiu Rio, a local court in Nagaland remanded eight trekkers, including two girls, from Manipur in two-day police custody on Wednesday.
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.
“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,” said Bijoy Kakchingtabam, president of Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association.
He added that members of Angami Youth Organisation in Nagaland “arrested” the trekkers and handed them over to the police. On learning of these developments, Mr. Singh rang up Mr. Rio requesting him to set them free.
Officials said that Manipur DGP L.M. Khaute also spoke to his Nagaland counterpart over the phone.
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 Mr. Kakchingtabam.
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.
