Minister's kin refutes assault charge
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 03 2011:
Health Minister L Jayantakumar's younger brother L Dhane has flatly rejected the allegation of assaulting bus driver Ningthoujam Dhanakuber of Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi.
Dhane, P Ranjit of Khagempalli Pankha, Kh Naoba of Singjamei Bheigyabati Leikai and K Dhari Shah of Senapati went to Senapati in a Bolero jeep to join Minister Jayantakumar's field visit on July 1 .
As the jeep was negotiating to overtake the bus driven by Dhanakuber, the jeep collided with another bus coming from the opposite side.
The collision caused injuries to all four of them travelling in the jeep and all of them lost consciousness, said L Dhane, P Ranjit and Kh Naoba during a press meet at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon.
Questioning how could they assault the bus driver when they themselves were unconscious, they refuted the charge of assaulting the bus driver as baseless.
They came to know that Dhanakuber was also injured when Dr Lohri of Senapati district hospital conveyed the information to L Dhane.
After receiving first aid at Senapati district hospital, all four of them together with the bus driver came to RIMS in an ambulance, Dhane, Ranjit and Naoba said.
Giving weightage to the stand of Dhane, the driver of the Bolero, PS Seikho, has provided a detailed input of the whole incident, pointing the finger of accusation squarely at the bus driver.
In a written statement submitted to The Sangai Express, Seikho said he along with three friends including Dhane were travelling in the Bolero from Imphal to Senapati.
On reaching Thangal General complex at Ningthoupham, they saw the night super bus heading towards Senapati, said Seikho and added that he blew his horn several times to signal to the bus to give way.
For quite some time the bus did not give way, maintained Seikho and added that it was only after some time that the driver of the bus, Dhanakuber waved his hand to tell them to go ahead.
As the Bolero was over taking the bus, another bus came from the opposite side leading to the collision.
The impact of the bus left the occupants of the Bolero profusely bleeding and hurt, said Seikho and added that they took another Bolero to reach Senapati district hospital where they were given first aid and later referred to RIMS.
Though the accident occured just next to his bus, Dhanakuber did not stop but went ahead, said Seikho and added that it was after a while that he took his mobile phone and called up the youth club and relatives at Senapati New River Colony.
The club members and relatives managed to stop the bus at Senapati district hospital after crossing Mayangkhang, Mao Mayangkhang, Henbung, toll tax gate, Kuki Taphou Rikhumai Taphou, charged Seikho.
The club volunteers landed three/four blows on the face of the bus driver, said Seikho and added it was him who stopped them from further beating up Dhanakuber.
It was in acknowledgement of his mistake that the bus driver surrendered his documents in photostat copies to the club members.
"On the request of the passengers, the bus was allowed to proceed," said Seikho and countered, "If he was not involved in the accident, why did he blame the passengers for such careless driving ?" Why did he run away from the site of the accident, crossing a number of villages, if he was not involved ?" asked Seikho.
"Dhanakuber himself admitted that he had committed a mistake by waving his hand and telling the Bolero to overtake," added the statement.
It was just to conceal the true story that he came up with such cooked up stories, said Seikho.