Driver injured in highway attack
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 24 2017:
Suspected NSCN (IM) cadres attacked a convoy of loaded trucks heading towards Imphal from Jiribam at Awangkhul under Noney police station today at around 11.15 am.
According to reports, a total of 373 loaded Tata trucks were coming towards Imphal from Jiribam with CRPF escort on account of the ongoing economic blockade.
When the trucks reached Awangkhul around 40 kms away from Noney police station, suspected NSCN (IM) cadres fired five rounds from atop a hill in which one tanker driver got injured.
The driver has been identified as Elangbam Birjit Singh (38) s/o Kumol Singh of Wangbal Mayai Leikai, Thoubal.
The tanker was also partly damaged in the gun attack.
The security escort and SSB personnel deployed in and around the area could not retaliate as the armed cadres fled the area soon after the attack.
On getting the information, a large number of security personnel rushed to the spot.
The loaded trucks include 42 petrol tankers, 67 diesel tankers, 3 ATF tankers, 31 LPG bullet tankers, 9 K Oil tankers, 40 FCI trucks, 2 medicine loaded trucks, 1 oxygen truck, 72 cement loaded trucks and 106 trucks loaded with essential commodities.
The trucks are expected to reach today late evening.