Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26 2009:
In connection with monetary demand, two truck drivers associated with stone crushing factories have been reportedly abducted by armed persons who identified themselves as members of KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) from the river bed of Sekmai.
In protest against the abduction and demanding safe release of the drivers, members of Northern Valley Stone Crusher Owners' Welfare Association and workers staged a protest demonstration at Pheidinga today.
According to general secretary of the Association Angom Boby, the two drivers identified as Konsam Somen (35) s/o late Tonsana of Tendouyang Mamang Leikai and Huirom Bishorjit (32) s/o Iboyaima of Kanto Turel Wangma were abducted by the armed men who identified themselves as members of KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman) while they were going to load stones from the river bed of Sekmai at around 5 am on June 24 .
Disclosing that there are over 20 stone crusher factories in and around Mantripukhri, Potsangbam and Sekmai area, Boby conveyed that the armed outfit has demanded Rs 30,000 from each of these factories.
Some days earlier, the same outfit had also abducted two other truck drivers identified as Nadakishore of Wangkhem and Mutum Rojit of Yairipok Chandrakhong.
However, they were released on June 14 after a large amount of money was paid to the outfit concerned, Boby further disclosed.
As the outfit has insisted on paying the demanded amount and warned of closing the factories until the demand is met, all the stone crushing factories have shut down, he lamented.
Placards inscribed with slogans like 'Don't arrest people for ransom', 'No to abduction for ransom' , 'Don't target drivers', etc were seen being put up at the site of the protest demonstration.