Gunmen hijack urea loaded truck, driver released
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 25 2022: A truck loaded with urea coming from Jiribam has been hijacked by unidentified gunmen but the driver of the truck was released and rescued by Drivers' Union from Noney.

The urea loaded truck was hijacked by Unidentified gunmen from a secluded spot around 1km from Kotlen security camp on August 22 at about 6.22pm.Regarding the incident, All Manipur Road Transport Drivers & Motor Workers Union (Drivers' Union) secretary general Maimom Anil told media persons that a urea loaded truck driven by Sagolsem Amuba, son of late Nilamadhop, which was coming from Jiribam was stopped by some unidentified gunmen not far from the Kotlen camp.

After two days in the custody of the unidentified gunmen, driver Amuba managed to reach Noney somehow and Drivers' Union rescued him from there, he said.

While informing that there had been at least five incidents of hijacking of trucks by unidentified gunmen along Imphal-Jiribam road this year, Anil said that the government must look into the matter seriously and take stringent action against the looters or else drivers might be compelled to cease service along the highway.

He also demanded adequate deployment of police and paramilitary forces along the national highway for ensuring safety and security of drivers and commuters.

Meanwhile, rescued driver Amuba told this daily that he left Jiribam railway station for Imphal on August 22 morning after loading urea fertilizer.

However, on August 23 at about 6.30pm, a Maruti car stopped his truck about 1km away from Kotlen army camp and three occupants of the car snatched the truck's key and pushed him inside the car.

When the car reached Awang Khul, the gunmen blindfolded him and drove towards thick jungle and the car was allowed to return.

After trekking for some hours, the gunmen then allowed him to rest at a farm hut with both his hands and legs tied with a rope, Amuba said, adding that he was then shifted to another place and tied to a tree from August 23 morning.

When asked the reason for abducting him and hijacking the truck, the unidentified gunmen replied that the truck owner failed to reach an understanding with them, Amuba said, adding that the unidentified gunmen took away his mobile phone and other belongings.

On August 24, the three gunmen along with him moved to another jungle and took rest near a gorge but the gunmen were not there when he woke up after around one hour, Amuba said, adding that he managed to reach a makeshift labour camp nearby and slept the whole night on the verandah of the camp after no one came out.

On the next morning, he could establish communication with his family and owner of the truck through the mobile phone of a labourer and later reached Noney by a vehicle.

Members of Drivers' Union then rescued him from Noney, Amuba narrated.

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