Mob ransacks house of UG involved in kidnapping autodriver
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 25, 2011:
The house of a KCP (MC), activist allegedly involved in the abduction of an auto-driver in connection with an extortion demand of Rs.7 lakh, was ransacked by a mob today.
Potsangbam Sanajaoba (28) son of Pishak of Lamboi Khongnangkhong presently residing at a rented house near the JNIMS Hospital, Porompat, driver of auto-rickshaw (MN01-2971) plying on the Porompat-DC road was taken into captivity by some KCP (MC) activists on January 22 on the pretext of collecting second-hand clothes from Lilong.
The auto-rickshaw belongs to one Maibam Tomba, a retired policeman.
A youth who looked like a Muslim hired him from the auto-parking near the Johnston Higher Secondary School around 4.30 pm the driver recalled, adding that another two youths who were waiting for them were picked up on the way.
He was asked to proceed towards Lilong Turel Ahanbi.
On reaching there, one of the youths took out a hand gun and forced him to sit in the back.
They then blindfolded him.
After a long drive, he was taken into a house where he was confined.
He was forced to contact his family members and to inform them that he has been caught by KCP (MC) with SP capsules and to pay Rs.7 lakh for his safe release.
They asked the family members to meet them in front of the Samurou cinema hall.
In the early hours today, around 4 am, he moved out of the house as the kidnappers failed to respond when he called out to them.
He removed his blindfold and walked as fast as he could to avoid re-abduction, he went on to tell.
He, then started running when he saw some houses in the distance.
On reaching the populated area, he came to know that he was in Lilong Lou Manga village where he pleaded to the villagers to save him from the kidnappers.
Later, the villagers held a meeting at a public ground in which speakers pointed out one Md Islauddin (30) of Lilong Sambukhok who had also been harassing the villagers on several occasions.
The villagers marched to the house of Islauddin and ransacked the house from where the family members had already vacated.
According to the villagers, Islauddin was involved in kidnapping of a village boy for recruitment as an UG in the recent past.
On the other hand, the public meeting resolved to find out other youths involved in the kidnapping of the auto-driver or if any village youth was involved in the act and to take action against them so as to prevent recurring of such crimes.
The villagers alleged that Islauddin is a drug user, and the meeting also decided to check drug trafficking in the village.