Imphal, September 06, 2009: The Ima Leimarol Apunba Lup, Churachandpur today urged all underground outfits operating in the state to clarify on the incident of killing Ngaseppam Ngongo@Basanta, driver of Imphal-Churachandpur passenger bus on September 1 and warned that the Lup will treat the underground group who fails to give clarification as regards the killing.

Addressing a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club here, president of the Lup, Konthoujam Nganbi ruled out the possibility of killing Ngongo on personal enmity and believes that the motive could have been related with bad relation with the owner of the bus.

Noting the stand of the drivers of the Imphal-Churachandpur buses not to resume work till the killer(s) of the driver is/are known, she said, the effort of the vehicle owners to resume the bus service with hired drivers amounts to disrespect of rights of the labour class people.

Till the culprit(s) behind the murder of the driver is/are known, passenger service will not be allowed to resume, she warned.

The drivers have decided not to return to their duty on apprehension that the fate that befell Ngongo may also befell them.

Any bus that resumes service before establishing the motive behind the murder will not be allowed to park at the Churachandpur bus parking, she further warned.

Secretary of Ima Leimarol Apunba Lup, Sanasam Muktaleima lauded the agreement that was brought about among the government, the JAC formed in connection with the killing of the driver and the drivers and owners' union, but leaving aside the demand for knowing the motive behind the killing is not acceptable.

Dhiren, a member of the Churachandpur Up Drivers' Union, who also attended the press meet, opined that the drivers of the buses plying this route are apprehensive in their minds.

He himself had faced atrocity from the miscreants when they tried to set on fire the bus he was driving on August 23 last.

He was the driver of the bus of which tyres were punctured by the miscreants by shooting bullets at them.

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