Imphal, November 24: The vast search for a fuel tanker driver and his assistant, who had gone missing for the past few days after loading fuel from an Assam oil depot culminated with the recovery of both bodies in a highly decomposed state, according to All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers� Union Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh.

Talking to mediapersons at the Shangakpham Bazar office of the Union today, Bhupenchandra informed that the bodies were retrieved from near Bedbari oil pump of Sibsagar in Assam State with multiple injury marks from sharp and pointed weapons all over.

Demanding appropriate action in the twin murder and payment of adequate compensation to families of the deceased, Bhupenchandra said family members of the victims had a tough time in confirming the identities of the bodies as several cut marks had defaced the bodies and were highly decomposed.

Pointed weapon wounds were detected at the chests.

The assistant driver was found beheaded.

Informing that Assam fuel transporters had protested the murder, Bhupenchandra said the Union members abstained from off-loading and ferrying petroleum products yesterday and today.

The victim driver has been named as Arjun kumar Sahni from Uttar Pradesh who was staying at Mantripukhri area and the assistant as one Ratan Kumar chettry of Thangmong village in Senapati district.

On completion of post mortem at Sibsagar District Hospital the last rites of both were performed today, said the union leader while adding that neither the identity cards nor vehicle documents could be recovered till date.

He also informed that the two victims had gone to fetch fuel from Tinsukia Terminal in the tanker bearing registration No MN03/0262 and quoted some other fuel transporters having seen the two leaving the said terminal with the loaded (petrol/12 kilolitres) vehicle on November 12.Some drivers even recalled of sighting Arjun and Ratan near Chinipong petrol pump located along NH-39 on the same night, narrated Bhupenchandra.

Divulging further details on the incident, he said following the failure of the two to show up at Khatkati station the next morning frantic inquiry/search were launched by the drivers and company officials only to be informed some days later that Assam police had found an abandoned, empty and un-manned fuel tanker from near Sibsagar-Mariani Forest Gate on November 17.Following news report published on November 20 in Assam dailies on recovery of unidentified bodies from near Sibsagar Bedwari oil pump the identities of the bodies could be established through their clothings, said the president.

Stating that Assam petroleum Majdor Union ceased service for two consecutive days to protest the ghastly act, Bhupenchandra cited similar protest by Manipur petrol transporters by stopping fuel transport service from the Shangakpham depot yesterday and today.

On behalf of fuel transporters, he demanded that Assam DGP and CM�s of Assam and Manipur order investigation into the murder case and ex-gratia to the victims� families failing which democratic form of agitation would be launched.

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