Vehicle hijacked and torched
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 18, 2011:
Miscreants hijacked an Imphal-Moreh passenger service Maruti van from Imphal and set it on fire at Ningombam village under Singjamei Police Station today, around 11 am.
Reports said that two miscreants who came on an Activa Honda hired the vehicle (MN04-5158) from Kangla pat Moreh parking around 10.30 am on the pretext of going on a pilgrimage to Serou village of Thoubal district.
The van left the parking with one of the miscreants while the other one followed them on the Activa.
After reaching Langthabal Phura Makhong, the miscreant in the van contacted to an unknown person over his mobile phone.
Later, the driver was asked to proceed towards Ningombam village.
On reaching the village, the Activa borne miscreant took out a bottle of petrol from his scooter and started to torch the vehicle.
Before setting it on fire, they also fired some rounds from a gun close to where the driver Lourembam Sumorjit (29) son of Late Tombi of Thoubal Khekman was standing, the report said.
Fire fighters from Imphal Fire Service Station rushed to the spot on getting the news and doused the fire.
Much of the vehicle was damaged by the fire.
The van belonged to one W Premchand of the same locality of the driver.
The two front tyres of the vehicle exploded causing panic to the nearby residents.
The motive behind the arson is yet to be established.
Singjamei police recovered the vehicle and also registered a case.