Auto driver murdered
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 28 2013: Even as a breakthrough continues to elude the murder of van driver Okram Gyaneshwor of Singjamei Okram Leikai, body of a diesel auto driver hailing from Tera Loukrakpam Leikai has been recovered from a Thoubal district area this morning consequently sparking a wild-cat agitation of road blockade at Tera Bazar area till late afternoon.

The victim identified as Ayekpam Nobin (53) used to operate in between Nagamapal to RIMS Gate and was reportedly missing from home since August 27 evening.

Cause of death is suspected to be from sharp weapon(s) as his throat was found slit and stab-like wounds spotted on his chest area.

After news spread about Nobin's lifeless corpse lying at a roadside near Kiyam Tangjeng and recovery of his auto some yards away from the body, locals came out to the streets and staged protest at Tera Keithel, thereby disrupting vehicular movement, even as his colleagues joined the protest.

With the number of protestors swelling steadily an emergency meeting was convened that culminated in the formation of 'JAC Against the Brutal Killing of A Nobin Meitei' .

The meeting also resolved to meet and hand over memorandums to the Chief Minister and the Deputy CM tomorrow to demand arrest of Nobin's murderers within a week, post mortem examination of the body tomorrow and not to claim the corpse for a week.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of civil society organisations.

According to family sources, Nobin told his colleagues at RIMS Gate on August 27 evening that he was retiring for the day.

However, after dropping a passenger from his own locality Nobin somehow decided to continue plying.

As he did not show up anxious family members called on his mobile phone with Nobin responding that he is going for some work.

The second call made by the family at around 10 pm was also responded by Nobin telling them he would be returning home soon.

Having failed to return home the third time a family member rang his phone early this morning led to a male stranger saying that he (Nobin) left the phone in his auto and has fled after suffering a slight injury during a scuffle at Kiyam Tangjeng, narrated the family source adding that the stranger also claimed to be injured in the scuffle.

Even as there was confusion and suspicion due to the stranger receiving the phone call, unconfirmed information was received about a body and a diesel auto abandoned at near Kiyam Tangjeng of Thoubal district.

On reaching there relatives spotted a team of Thoubal police led by the SP scanning the spot of crime.

Apart from finding Nobin's body with injury marks and the auto a few yards away, the relatives also spotted the police team recovering an RC (Vehicle document) book bearing the name Salam Toubi w/o Manjit of Toubul Mayai Leikai.

A police team subsequently deposited Nobin's body at JNIMS morgue.

Mention may be made that van driver Gyaneshor was found dead at an isolated spot near Langthabal Naran Konjil.

The murder had sparked strong protest and even a State-wide general strike call some days back.

No arrest has been made till date in the case.

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