Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23 2008:
Even as United Committee Manipur (UCM) has drawn the attention of the Government to the plight of the villagers of Ekou and Yengkhomang who are being allegedly harassed continued by armed cadres of a Kuki UG group which is a signatory to the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government, suspected armed cadres of a Kuki UG group reportedly thrashed a driver of a passenger bus plying between Saikul and Imphal today.
The incident occurred at around 11.30 am in front of Model School gate at Saikul Bazar under Saikul Police Station.
The injured driver who has been admitted to JN Hospital here has been identified as Pukhrihongbam Jeevan (23) s/o Nungshi of Ekou.
He is the driver of the passenger bus (MNA-577) owned by Balu of Telipati.
In connection with the incident, the injured driver informed that he was driving the bus along with the passengers from Saikul and heading towards Imphal, when one of the armed persons stopped the bus near the gate of Model School at Saikul Bazar.
After climbing into the bus, the armed person insisted on driving the bus to which he gently objected by saying he can do so when there are no passenger.
To that the armed person not only snatched the key but also tried to forcefully drive the bus compelling some of th panic passengers to alight from the bus.
After sometime, the armed intruder also got down from the bus and him to drive ahead.
But when Jeevan requested for allowing to halt the bus for sometime so as to facilitate the passengers who had got to board it, the armed persons called some of his colleagues and beat him up.
After detaining injured driver, the armed persons also let the but to go ahead with the handyman in the driver's seat.
While in detention, Jeevan had been subjected to brutal torture and he was released only at around 2.30 pm after giving Rs 1000 for medication, the injured driver informed.
Meanwhile, while appreciating the assurance of the DGP that appropriate action would taken up against any UG groups which are signatories of Suspension of Operation (SoO) in case their armed cadres were found violating the ground rules of SoO, United Committee Manipur (UCM) has drawn the attention of the Government to the plight of the villagers of Ekou and Yengkhomang who are being harassed by armed UG cadres of a signatory of SoO.
In a statement, information and publicity relations secretary of UCM BM Yaima Shah also called upon all the civil organisations and more particularly that of the Kuki community in ensuring such incidents do not recur.