Imphal: On that fateful day, I had gone with my husband to buy medicines for our child. None of us imagined that such a terrifying tragedy would unfold before our eyes. As we were returning home, there were seven of us in the vehicle, including my husband, who was the only male among us.
When we reached the crossroads known as German Road, located between Vaphei and Khunou, our vehicle was suddenly stopped by a group of people. They ordered all of us to get down immediately. Confused and frightened, we asked them why we were being stopped, but one of the men harshly replied that we should simply obey their instructions.
Moments later, my husband was forcibly pulled out of the vehicle. Before my eyes, he was dragged away like an animal, without mercy or humanity, and thrown into another vehicle. I also noticed two large sticks being placed inside that vehicle. The entire scene was horrifying beyond words.
To this day, I remain deeply shocked and heartbroken by how some people continue to deny that those men, including my husband, were abducted. I witnessed it with my own eyes. My husband and the other five men were taken away against their will.
I earnestly plead for the immediate release of those five men and my husband. I appeal to the government and all concerned authorities to understand the unbearable pain and suffering that our families continue to endure every single day. We are living in fear, grief, and uncertainty.
Later that night, we heard the sound of gunshots somewhere nearby, although we could not determine the exact time or location. The fear that filled our hearts at that moment is impossible to describe.
The men among the attackers detained the male victims, while the women among them surrounded and controlled us women. We were herded into a community hall, where all the doors and windows were shut tightly so that none of us could escape.
One of the women who had been detained cried out, asking why we were being arrested. In response, one of the women guarding us angrily said that “you Nagas killed our pastors in an ambush and ran away.”
After some time, armed KNF militants arrived. They wore masks and carried sophisticated weapons. They began blindfolding the women from our village. At that moment, we women hoped that the women guarding us would show compassion and help rescue us, because we too were women and fellow human beings. But sadly, they showed us no mercy. We were treated not as human beings, but as animals.
Surrounded and closely watched, we could not even see which direction our men were taken. Helpless and terrified, we were left behind with nothing but fear, grief, and uncertainty about the fate of our loved ones.
