Rescued drivers handed over to families, loaded trucks still missing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 02 2013 : Two truck drivers who were rescued by Sangai team of KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman group) from Wokha, Nagaland have been handed over to their respective families through the drivers' union and Meira Paibis.

Truck driver Toijam Mangijaoba (33) s/o late Abung and his assistant RK Bharatsana (37) s/o late Lakhsana of Narankonjil Mayai Leikai, Imphal West district were rescued by KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman group) from the hands of some unidentified armed persons in the night of November 26 from Wokha.

They were then handed over to the members of the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union and Meira Paibis at Silchar.

The two drivers reached Imphal yesterday.

The duo were abducted by some unidentified persons when they were resting in front of an oil pump at Bokajan, Assam inside their trucks in the intervening night of November 2 and 3 .

Speaking to media persons at their MG Avenue office this afternoon, All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union general secretary H Kullamani expressed relief on securing safe release of the two drivers.

The two drivers

Yet it is a matter of serious concerned that the loaded truck driven by them could no be traced till date.

Mangijao who was also present at the press meet said that he and his assistant were heading for Imphal after loading the truck with iron rods and eatables on October 30 .

They halted the truck and went to sleep inside the truck in front of an oil pump at Bokajan on November 3.It was from there that some 11/12 unidentified persons who came in two Bolero jeeps and spoke Nagamese overpowered and took them to unknown locations.

Once they crossed into Nagaland, they were blind-folded and taken to a secluded place, possibly a forest, after driving for about one hour and a half.

There, Mangijao was asked mobile phone number of the truck owner.

On being enquired about the name of the UG group to which the abductors belonged, Mangijao was simply told that the truck owner knew them.

After 23 days have passed, 3/4 persons who were guarding the abducted drivers ran away on seeing some armed persons clad in military uniforms coming in their direction at around dusk of November 26 .

Later it turned out that the armed persons numbered around 15 and they belonged to Sangai team of KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman group) .

After the drivers identified themselves, all the shackles which bound them were removed.

The duo left the place together with the armed cadres.

They also learnt from the armed cadres that the place where they held hostage was Wokha.

Together with some cadres of KCP-MC (Lamyanba Khuman), the two drivers came to Senapati and then up to Khongnang Karak by bus.

From there, the duo were taken to Churachandpur in a van.

The two drivers were told that they would be handed over to the driver union and Meira Paibis after an officer of the outfit comes from Myanmar.

Saying this, they were taken to Assam through Aizawl.

On the other hand, truck owner Rajesh Gupta (37) of MG Avenue said that one individual who identified himself as an activist of NNC/FGN demanded Rs 10 lakh in case he (Rajesh Gupta) wished to see the driver and the assistant driver alive.

Rajesh Gupta was also told that he would not get the goods loaded in the truck (NL-01G/8931) as well as the truck.

Rajesh Gupta has two trucks which strangely have the same registration number NL-01G/8931 .