Imphal, Sept 14 (PTI) Unidentified militants kidnapped a medical officer and a nurse from a primary health centre in Imphal West district of Manipur, official sources said today.

The militants, pretending to be civilians, entered the health centre at Mekola area yesterday and asked medical officer R K Joymati and staff nurse Kabita to accompany them to a nearby place to attend to a man injured in a road accident.

When the unsuspecting medical officer and nurse accompanied the duo, they were taken to an unknown place at gunpoint, the sources said. Local residents and staff members of the primary health centre strongly condemned the incident and launched a sit-in-protest last evening.

Later, a caller who claimed to belong to a militant outfit told the medical officer''s family members that the two were kidnapped because state Health and Family Welfare Minister Ph. Parijat refused to appoint two persons proposed by the militant outfit in the health department and also failed to give money demanded by them.

Officials said efforts were being made to trace the kidnapped persons.
(msn news)