Imphal, Oct 23 : Work in Manipur’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) has come to a standstill since Saturday due to the indefinite sit-in protest by engineers and staff of the department against the kidnapping of three officials by Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) cadres.

The three PHED officials -- Executive Engineer L.Ibomcha Singh, Assistant Engineer O. Meino Singh and Section officer N. Upendro Singh -- posted at Imphal East PHED Division have been missing since October 12.

They were reportedly kidnapped by the KRA cadres between Napetpali and Nongren under Lamlai Police Station's jurisdiction while they were on their way back after inspecting water supply schemes being undertaken at Lamlai and surrounding areas in Imphal.

The families of the abducted officials said that they were informed over telephone that the officials were in the custody of the KRA.

When contacted by the officials of PHED, KRA demanded Rs. 10 million in exchange for the safe release of the three engineers.

The officials at the PHED have expressed their anger at the growing incidents of such kidnappings.

“We have to stop work on water supply to the public as our people have been abducted. The kidnappers have demanded a huge amount of money for the release of our colleagues. I fail to understand from where we get so much money to meet the abductors' demands," said R S Very Pam, Additional Chief Engineer, PHED.

This incident is not the first of its kind to hit the department. In February, an Assistant Engineer and a Section Officer were also kidnapped by the same group and later released after negotiations and the ransom amount was paid. (ANI)