Imphal: Militants who kidnapped three persons including a Central official in Manipur have demanded a huge sum for their release, official sources said on April 30.

Negotiation was on for the safe release of the kidnapped persons, including general manager of the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development (APFPED) Prabin Gupta, with the unidentified ultras, who made their demand known through 'some persons', the sources said.

The Centre had instructed the state government to make every possible measure to secure safe release of the kidnapped persons.

Police forces have already been put on maximum alert in interior district of Chandel from where the three were abducted to intercept the movement of the ultras, the sources added.

Besides Gupta, whose APFPED falls under the union commerce ministry, official of state Industry department S Joykumar Singh and their driver were taken away by the ultras.

PTI