Peyao Konyak, a Naga from Mon district who works as a daily wage earner in Manipur, has recently made headlines after he was reported abducted in the violence strife State. The news had received unwarranted speculations on social media.

Konyak appeared on a YouTube show posted on 24th September 2023 where he announced his safe arrival at Dimapur and also narrated his side of the abduction story. In Sunday’s video, he claimed that he was taken by unknown men on 20th September 2023 and placed at a rehab centre until he was released due to intervention of the Nagaland Government.

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In Peyao Konyak’s words, he had been sick for days and was on his way to the pharmacy on the fateful day after having discussed with his wife. On reaching his destination, he felt exhausted so he decided to visit a friend’s house to have some water to drink. However, on his way, a man grabbed his arm without any explanation and took him to another place where around four men were waiting. “When I asked them what was happening and why I was being nabbed, they did not say anything but rather asked what was in my pocket. So, I gave them my wallet,” said Peyao Konyak in the interview.

From there, the men took him inside a car and drove him to an unknown area, he said.

“I did not even know where they were taking me. I also noticed that the car did not even have a number plate. With the situation being tense in Manipur, I got worried,” mentioned Konyak. On reaching the place, they were met by a group of men and women who gathered and started speaking among themselves questioning his ethnicity. “Looking at my necklace they assumed that I must be a Naga. While they were discussing among themselves, I quickly called my wife informing her that I had been abducted. Then suddenly one of the men came up to me and questioned who I was speaking to and snatched my phone,” explained Konyak.

Following which, they drove Konyak to another area where there was a rehabilitation centre and placed him there. “There I requested them to return my phone so that I could inform my family where I was but they refused to give me back. The next day too, I requested them but they said they would discuss with the staff and give it but they did not. And they kept me for another night too. Had they given my phone and let me clarify everything to my family, they situation would not have escalated to this.”  Peyao Konyak said.

I stayed back because of financial issues

“Because of my financial situation, I stayed back,” said Peyao Konyak in the interview clarifying that he did not return home because the company he worked for did not pay him. Konyak, who had been working there since February, mentioned that the owner kept delaying their payments. “In April, when I asked them for my wage, they said they would pay me in May first week but then by May the situation became violent. And I could not go back home empty ended. I have a family to feed, so I stayed back. Many of our people were working there and when they all left, they entrusted me to return back with their wages too,” stated Konyak.

The Manipur Home Department has earlier said that Peyao Konyak was not abducted but left his current address on his own accord following an altercation with his family. The official further informed that the Imphal East Police found Konyak at a rehabilitation centre.

Read more: Konyak man left home after altercation with family, was not abducted: Manipur Home Dept clarifies