Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 16 2010:
A Tata Magic van operating on Imphal-Lamlai route was set ablaze by some unidentified persons at Khanglapokpi Chingkhong under Lamlai police station at about 9.30 this morning.
In protest against this act of arson, the Imphal-Lamlai Taxi Transport Co-operative Society Limited has banned all passenger transport services operating on Imphal-Ukhrul road with effect from tomorrow.
The Magic van (MN01W-1997) set ablaze by the miscreants belongs to one Thangjam Nabakumar s/o late Bijoy of Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi.
But the vehicle was registered in the name of one S Shyamchandra s/o Mangibabu of Chingarel Tezpur.
Talking about the incident, driver of the vehicle, which was almost reduced to cinders, Hemam Pradip of Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi said that the vehicle was kept parked at Lamlai Bazar parking after returning from a trip to Imphal when three youngster of around 20 years came there and asked him to take a patient from Kamuching.
At this, Pradip said that he was not acquainted with the route and that he was not willing to go.
Then, one from among three unidentified youngsters drew out a gun and forced Pradip to drive his vehicle towards Kamuching on the road East to Lamlai Bazar.
On reaching Khanglapokpi, the youngsters confiscated mobile phone and some amount of cash from Pradip and asked him to leave the spot immediately.
In the next moment, the three youngsters set the van afire totally reducing it to cinders, Pradip said.
Taking strong exception to this act of arson, the Imphal-Lamlai Taxi Transport Co-operative Society Limited has decided to ban all passenger transport service on Imphal-Ukhrul road with effect from 5 am tomorrow until and unless an explicit explanation is furnished for the arson.