''The Congress stands by what it has said. The truth is the MNF government had paid ransoms. There is no point of denying the truth, which had been upheld by a court of law,'' chairman of Congress media department C Lalruata said at a press conference here today.
The reiteration came after MNF vice-president and MLA Dr R Lalthangliana, in a press conference last week, strongly refuted Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla’s allegations that the MNF had encouraged kidnapping culture in Mizoram by paying ransoms to the criminals.
The blame game is over the kidnapping of two construction firm’s executives by cadres of banned outfit UDLA from their road construction site in northern Mizoram on June 6, who were rescued by Mizoram police after ten days.
According to the Congress, 69 people had been kidnapped by militants in 24 separate incidents during the MNF’s rule from 1999-2008.
All the hostages were released by the kidnappers after receiving ransoms.
''When then Congress MLA R Lalzirliana revealed before the media on May 8, 2003 that the MNF government paid ransoms, then Home Minister R Tlanghmingthanga charged him with defamation case,'' he said ''When two witnesses, the one who couriered the ransom money and another person, who was among the militants and received the money, testified that ransoms had been paid, the court had no other option than to give a clean chit to Lalzirliana,'' Mr Lalruata said.
In another incident of kidnap, a gang of highway robbers abducted a Mizo youth, who was travelling with other passengers in a maxicab between Shillong and Silchar, the MNF government paid Rs 5,00,000 (which was half of the demanded ransom) for his safe release, he said, adding, ''The MNF is yet to clear the remaining Rs five lakh.'' The Congress further accused the MNF party of introducing kidnap culture in Mizoram.
Referring to the Mizoram insurgency led by MNF, Lalruata said, ''During the period of 1966 to 1986, the people of Mizoram were introduced to the term ‘kidnap.’ Those days, the kidnap victims were mostly members of Mizo Union and People’s Conference parties and government officials. Those who had enough money to pay the ransoms, were released and those who did not have money were ‘silenced’, Mr Lalruata recollected.
''Kidnapping is one of the most common crimes taking place in every part of the world. In most cases the hostages are released after payment of demanded ransom. No one has ever denied paying ransom. Why has the MNF party denied it?,'' Lalruata asked.
The party further claimed that when the militants kidnapped the two ABCL executives on June 6, the people’s expectation from the Congress government was that the hostages would be rescued without paying the ransom demanded.
''People’s expectation has been fulfilled,'' Lalruata proudly said.
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