There has been no breakthrough in talks aimed at securing the release of a German NGO worker, abducted by suspected Kuki Liberation Army militants in Manipur last Sunday.
A team of NGO representatives is scheduled to meet the abductors on Friday after the first attempt at securing the release of Heinrich Wolfgang, a German development worker failed on Thursday.
Meanwhile, three prominent militant groups in the state, the United Liberation Front of Manipur, the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and the Revolutionary People's Front have issued a statement condemning Wolfgang's abduction and called it a "blemish" on the "freedom struggle" in the north-east.
"Foreign nationals, unless they are working against the freedom struggle, should be accorded due hospitality," the statement said.
Several other organisations have also criticised the abduction. Wolfgang, who arrived here to acquaint himself with the activities of the German funded NGOs in the state, was abducted while he was on his way to Maphou dam to inspect the progress work of a community based project.
Condemning the abduction in the strongest term, Kuki Inpi Manipur denounced that "instead of showing our hospitality and gracious courtesy, kidnapping of such visitors, besides being inhuman, is against the tradition and culture of the Kukis and it only reflects our image to the outside world in a very distorted and unfavorable light."
The United Nations NGO Mission, Manipur assisted by village chiefs of the area where Wolfgang was abducted and local meira paibis (women's organisations) staged a rally to appeal for the release of the abducted German national.
Meanwhile, a senior German diplomat in Delhi also arrived in Imphal on Wednesday to try and assist in securing Wolfgang's release.
Police officials in Imphal said they have refrained from launching any full-scale rescue operation in deference to the wishes of the NGOs who are trying to secure Wolfgang's release.