Press Trust of India Posted online: Thursday, March 27, 2003 at 1136 hours IST Updated: Thursday, March 27, 2003 at 1146 hours IST
Imphal, March 27: Security forces have stepped up search operations in the mountains of Manipur's Thoubal district to trace German national Heinrich Wolfgang who was kidnapped by Kuki militants demanding a ransom of Rs one crore even as a red alert was sounded across the state.
Contigents of security and police personnel were combing parts of Maphou area in Thoubal district from where Wolfgang was abducted on March 23, official sources said.
Security personnel involved in search operations were taking maximum precautionary measures to avoid any harm to the German national by their kidnappers, the sources said.
Representatives of some social organisations were also making hectic efforts to establish contact with the militants who belonged to underground Kuki Liberation Army, the sources added.
Meanwhile, separatist organisation Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) has appealed to the kidnappers to release Wolfgang immediately, without harming him, an MPLF statement said.
Social organisations said in a statement that Wolfgang was involved with the activities of some NGOs in the state and he should be freed immediately by the kidnappers.
