Auto driver shot dead
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 02: An autorickshaw driver was found shot dead by unidentified gunmen near the canal of Koirengei Primary School under Heingang Police Station at around 10.50 pm yesterday.

The victim has been identified as Md Zakir Hussein (35) s/o Siraj Ahamed of Yairipok Ningthounai.

When his body was found, people at first thought that he might have been killed when his autorickshaw fell into the canal.

It was only after the body was fished out that it was known that he had been shot dead.

Police picked up the body which bore multiple bullet marks and deposite it at RIMS morgue today.

Police confront a huge crowd which had to come to the CM's bungalow to protest the killing of an auto-driver

Meanwhile, agitated members of North AOC Autorickshaw Drivers' Association (NAADA) were dispersed by police from in front of Chief Minister's bungalow while they were coming in their respective autorickshaws to lodge a complaint with the Chief Minister in connection with killing of Md Zakir Hussein today.

According to reports, representatives of the JAC formed in protest against the killing and NAADA members were coming together in 70 autorickshaws to lodge their complaint at around 2.40 pm when the police personnel on duty near the Chief Minister's bungalow dispersed them.

However, some of the JAC representatives were allowed to wait for a meeting with the Chief Minister.

Md Zakir Hussein had reportedly left from North AOC parking in auto-rickshaw (MN01Q-6793) at around 7.45 pm yesterday after informing his colleagues that he was heading for Koirengei.

After being dispersed by the police, agitated autori-ckshaw drivers converged at Palace Compound again.

Meira Paibis from the locality of Md Zakir also arrived there soon and they jointly marched toward the CM's bungalow.

However, the police reported to firing in the air to disperse the agitators.

In another incident, an autorickshaw driver was severely injured in what appeared to be a pre-meditated attack that was preset by a road rage with a mini truck driver.

According to reports, the driver, Md Mazboor Rehman, 37, son of Md Habibur of Khabeisoi Sabal Leikai was waylaid by four-five assailants and brutally assaulted at Khurai Thoudam Leikai Heinou Makhong at around 11.30 this afternoon.

He had been admitted to JN Hospital with multiple wounds in the head, face and other upper body parts.

An FIR has been registered with Porompat police station in this regard.

Passengers riding on the vehicle reportedly tried in vain to protect him from the youths who were armed with heavy sticks.

The youths took to their heels only after bystanders and public came to his rescue.

By that time, Rehman was bleeding heavily and in need of immediate medical attention.

The attack has enraged the diesel auto rickshaw drivers servicing on the route who termed it as harsh and unwarranted.

Colleagues of Rehman recalled that he had an altercation with the driver of a mini truck when they were caught during heavy traffic at around the same spot yesterday.

But the matter was mutually resolved almost afterward.

They had no doubt now that the attack was connected with the incident and vowed to bring the offenders to justice.

The Khabeisoi Auto Rickshaw Owners and Drivers Association and North Eastern Auto Rickshaw Services Association immediately pulled off the road in protest.

The associations have further resolved to organize a sit-in-protest next Monday from 6 am to 5 pm at Lamlong Bazar .

Services will also be halted for the day.

Advisor of NEARSA, Thanoujam Lokendro declared that they had taken the step to highlight the vulnerable conditions of the drivers who have come under constant attack from several quarters.

Besides harassment and looting by passengers, they had been victims to extortions from armed outfits and abuse by drivers of heavier vehicles, he complained.

Passenger commuting on the 120 odd diesel autorickshaws plying through Khurai Lamlong Bazar, from Pangei, Sawombung and Top Moirang Kampu will be left stranded due to the lay off.