5 Manipuri transporters hurt in attack at Guwahati
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 10 2014:
There seems to be no end to the problems face by Manipuri drivers and handymen plying along the National Highways for transportation of goods for the people of the State.
Five days after four truck drivers who were abducted for ransom by some armed miscreants from near a petrol pump under Ambrajan Police Station in Karbi Anglong district of Assam were released after 11 days in captivity, four other Manipuri truck drivers and a handyman were reportedly beaten up severely by unidentified miscreants in Guwahati's inter-state bus terminus (ISBT) on June 7 late evening.
All Manipur Night Super Bus Drivers and Handymen Welfare Association has strongly condemning the incident and drawn the attention of the Government of Manipur to take up the matter with its Assam counterpart.
Addressing a press conference in this regard here today, Secretary of the Association L.Irabot informed that at around 8 pm on on June 7, the drivers and handymen were cooking and eating their meals for the night in the vicinity of the Inter State Bus Terminus at Guwahati when some persons came and passed urine just a foot away from where they were eating.
Not able to bear with the foul smell, the drivers asked the intruders not to relief themselves there.
But minutes later, these men came back with their friends wielding iron rods and vehicle gear-lever and started thrashing the drivers and handymen, Irabot said, while lamenting that the security personnel deployed for manning the bus terminus just remained there a mute spectator and did nothing to stop the beating.
It was only after police personnel from the nearby outpost came in rushing that the Manipuri drivers and handymen were saved, Irabot said, while at least five persons namely Chingtham Biren (50), s/o late Amar of Khongjom Patpan in Thoubal district; L Balbir (42), s/o Kumar of Kangchup Chingkhong in Imphal East district; Ningombam Ratan (24) s/o Tomba of Khongjom Patpan in Thoubal district; Thokchom Inao (42) s/o Nimai of Khongjom Patpan and Md Yaima (32) of Minuthong Hatta, Imphal East district sustained injuries in the attack.
Md Yaima is said to be a handyman while the rest are drivers.
Of the five injured, three of them arrived at Imphal yesterday and they got medical treatment from Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal while Thokchom Inao and Md Yaima are still in Guwahati as their truck broke down.
Irabot informed that the Association would be submitting a representation to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and Transport Minister Kh Ratankumar apprising them about the incident so that the matter is taken up with the Assam Government for ensuring the safety of Manipuri transporters.