Abducted driver assaulted, freed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 03 2014 : One driver of Tata Winger van who was abducted by some unidentified persons from Karong, Senapati district was thrashed blue and black before setting him free.

The victim who still finds it hard to stand properly narrated the ordeal to a team of reporters at Manipur Press Club here today.

He also sought immediate attention of the Government so as to avoid such attacks in future.

Wairokpam Romesh (24) s/o late Ranjit of Yumnam Patlou, Imphal East district was bringing back students of JNV Senapati located at Mao together with their parents in the afternoon of April 30 .

It was the parents from Khundrakpam and Pangei who hired his Tata Winger to bring back the students.

On other days, his Tata Winger operated on Imphal-Saikul road.

On their way back, one Hyundai Santro car (NL-07/4440) honked repeatedly from behind near Lairou at around 3.45 pm.

Romesh steered away his vehicle and gave way for the car.

But one person sitting in the car abused Romesh and his passengers using vulgar words.

Even then, they refrained themselves for retorting.

After travelling some distance, the car was found parked in front and its occupants signalled Romesh to pull up but he kept on driving at the instruction of the guardians.

There were five persons in the car and it did not look like they were armed.

Nonetheless, they overtook Romesh and stopped him at Karong.

From there he was taken to Senapati district hospital which is currently under construction.

Inside the hospital, they thrashed Romesh blue and black.

Then they forced and directed him to call one of the guardians through mobile phone and bring Rs 10,000 .

Later, at around 5 pm, the assailants hired an auto-rickshaw directing the driver to take back their victim to the spot from where he was abducted, Romesh recounted.

Saying that he was not the first victim of such attacks, Romesh appealed to the Government authority to book the assailants and ensure safety of drivers on highways.

It is said that a report has been filed at Senapati police station.

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