Cement-laden trucks set ablaze
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 23: Suspected KYKL activists set on fire three Tata trucks coming from Assam laden with cement bags after way lying and taking them to Sekmai river in front of Kanglatongbi Bazar Board under Sekmai Police Station at around 2 pm today.

There registration numbers of the three ill-fated Tata trucks are MN06-1085 and MN01-530, both owned by one G Birjit of Uripok Gopaljee Leirak and MN01-5853, owned by one Yumnam Pakchao (40) of Tengdongyan Awang Leikai.

Thokchom Ibochou (25) s/o Babar of Mutum Phibou is the driver of the damaged Tata truck MN06-1085 while Khamnam Guni (28) s/o Tharo of Irilbung Kalika Bazar was at the wheel of the Tata truck MN01-5308 when the incident occurred.

The cement bags they brought were meant for one Gupta of Thangal Bazar.

Hriini Hubert and Mohini Martin (Right) during happier days

The driver of the third Tata truck (MN01-5853) is identified as one Arubam Kameshore (40) of Tengdongyan Awang Leikai and the cement load he was bringing was meant for one Boynao of Sagolband Tera.

According to information culled from the site of the incident, having had his meal at Lairou in Senapati, Kameshore (the driver of the Tata truck MN01-5853) arrived first and was stationing at Sekmai Bazar when Thokchom Ibochou (driver of Tata truck MN06-1085) and Khamnam Guni (driver of Tata truck MN01-5308) reached Sekmai Bazar at around 11 am and had their meals.

After having their food, they went to a nearby PCO to telephone their respective owners and find out where the cement bags have to be unloaded when they encountered four unidentified persons who demanded to know whether they possessed the slips of the proscribed KYKL.

On replying that the outfit did not issue slips when requested, the unidentified persons said the Tata trucks have to be torched since they do not possess the slips of KYKL.

Subsequently the drivers were forced to drive the three loaded Tata trucks to the river bed of Sekmai river in front of Kanglatongbi Bazar Board.

There the three drivers reportedly heard the unidentified persons talking to some leaders of the KYKL at Dimapur on the mobile phones and giving instruction for torching the trucks as they do not have slips issued by the outfit.

Apart from taking the money meant for filling fuel at Khamnam Guni, the unidentified persons also allegedly forced the drivers to empty whatever fuel was left from the trucks before setting them on fire at around 2 pm.

While the trucks were being set on fire, the handymen of the three vehicles were reportedly made to stay inside a nearby hut in a paddy field.

On receiving the reports of torching the trucks at around 3 pm, fire service personnel rushed in to the spot along with three fire tenders and work hard to control the fire.

It is said if the fire service personnel did not come in time, all the three Tata trucks would have been burnt beyond redemption.

With exception to the driver seats and the upper portion of the engines, the other parts of the trucks have been saved from destruction as a result of efforts of the fire service personnel.

However, as the cement bags have been drenched completion, all the cement would become useless.

On getting the report of the incident, a team of commandos led by Imphal SP also rushed in and conducted search operation in and around the area.

In yet another incident, a cement-laden Tata Truck (MN01-6249) had also been allegedly torched by some unidentified persons at Khurai Angom Leikai along Turel Ahanbi Lambi at around 4.30 pm today.

The ill-fated Tata truck belongs to one Alex of T-Khullen in Senapati district and it was being driven by one N Inao of Tengdongyan Mayai Leikai.

It was carrying 400 bags of cement meant for unloading for an individual living at Kongba Bazar when the unidentified persons intercepted and set it on fire.

Before the arrival of the Fire service personnel, the fire had destroyed all the wiring in the driver's cabin and the upper portion of the engine.

This Tata truck had reportedly went ahead of the other three damaged Tata trucks from Sekmai.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection, 24-year old driver of the ill-fated truck Inao informed that while arrangements were being made to unload the cement bags at Kongba Bazar, four unidentified persons coming on two-wheelers asked to come along with the loaded truck and threatened that it would be set on fire if the cement bags were unloaded.

Out of the four unidentified persons, one of them boarded the truck and directed to be taken to Khurai Angom Leikai where three other unidentified persons who were already there set the truck on fire.

All the unidentified persons fled from there on two wheelers brought by them soon after committing the act of arson.