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The National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Isak-Muivah, has reportedly asked for the return of their arms and ammunition seized during an encounter as a precondition for the safe release of the abducted deputy commissioner of Manipur's Chandel district, Yambem Thamkishore.
In a statement to the local media in Imphal, the Amsterdam-based Naga International Support Centre quoted the NSCN-IM general secretary T Muivah as saying that Thamkishore was now in the custody of his outfit.
Official sources when contacted refused to divulge the identity of those behind the kidnapping or comment on the NSCN-IM's claim.
"All we can say is that the kidnapping outfit's identity cannot be disclosed at this stage," the sources said.
"If the government of India responds positively within the next few days, the deputy commissioner will be released unharmed," the NISC statement quoted Muivah as having said.
The statement demanded that the arms captured by the Indian Reserve Battalion at Pallel in Chandel district on March 18 were returned to the underground organisation.
The official was kidnapped at gunpoint next day by armed militants from Chandel forest, while he was returning to his official residence.
Police and paramilitary forces were yet to begin search and rescue operations following request from public leaders of Chandel district and pleadings from prominent community leaders that such action might pose danger to the official's life and have serious consequences for the local population.
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