IMPHAL: Manipur will witness yet another bandh on Monday as the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the kidnapping and killing of a JCB driver has announced a decision to impose a 36-hour statewide bandh starting from 5am.
According to the JAC, the bandh is to be imposed as a mark of expressing the people’s resentment over the police inability to save the life of the driver.
The dead body of JCB driver Debraj alias Ton, a residents of Khurai, Imphal East district was found buried near Seijang village in Senapati district along the National Highway-37 on Saturday after he went missing since October 14 along with the JCB.
In connection with the incident, five persons have been arrested by the police including a woman and a father-son duo.
Talking to the media on Sunday morning, Imphal West district Superintendent of Police Jayenta said the arrested persons have been identified as Namoijam Gojen (50), son of (late) N Chaoba of Ningombam Makha Leikai and his sons Namoijam Chalamba alias Rakhesh (25) and Namoijam Jimikanta (24), his daughter-in-law Namoijam ongbi Tombi alias Jiteswori (24) wife of N Chalamba and Tongbram Babu alias Shyamchand (27), son of T Biren Singh of Thanga Khunjao, who is presently staying at Langol Lai Manai.
According to the police officer, two persons were arrested first.
After the intense inerrogation was conducted on them, the accused had revealed that the JCB driver was killed and buried near Seijang village.
A police team along with the accused rushed to the spot on Saturday and dug out the dead body in the presence of a magistrate.
Later, the corpse was deposited at the mortuary of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
Debaraj was abducted from Singjamei area in Imphal along with the JCB.
The vehicle is owned by one Chanambam Anilkumar Singh of Changamakha Chanam Pukhri Mapal.
The accused had reportedly taken the JCB on the pretext of hiring but allegedly killed the driver after reportedly selling the JCB to other.
The JCB was recovered from Tupul area of Tamenglong district.
Meanwhile, soon after the news was spread this morning that the missing driver dead body was found, the people had imposed lightning bandh in Khurai area blocking roads, burning tyres.
Police had a difficult time in dealing with the protestors in Khurai area on Sunday.