An van driver providing passenger service at the Imphal-Moreh road was physically assaulted allegedly by armed individuals who were suspected to be from a militant group on Tuesday.
The victim identified as one Md Abdul Hakim, 30, of Abdul Aziz from Sora Keithel said that the armed miscreants assaulted him after he refused to give them a tax of Rs 100. He returned home from Moreh on Tuesday around 7 pm as customers were scarce, he said.
He said when he reached Chamol village of Tengnoupal district (locally known as Zero), few individuals were standing at a usual tax collection point for Kuki militants. When the miscreants asked him to pay a tax of Rs 250, he refused as he had not earned a profitable amount on the day, he added.
Then the culprits asked him to give them Rs 100, he maintained. After he refused to give the money, the miscreants started to physically assault him, he added.
Meanwhile, drivers who provide passenger service at Imphal-Moreh demonstrated cease work protest condemning the alleged assault on Md Abdul Hakim, at Sora Keithel in Kakching district.
During the protest, Joint Action Committee (JAC) Against Brutal Torture of Md Abdul Hakim was formed. The protesters demanded the authorities concerned to take up necessary action against the miscreants by 6 am on Friday. The JAC has threatened to launch a blockade on the Imphal-Moreh road if their demands are not met.
One driver said that the area where the incident had occurred is close to a police station, questioning the police’s competency. He also drew the attention of the authorities concerned about the limitation of the number of items loaded on a passenger vehicle mandated by the Assam Rifle at Khudengthabi, appealing for the limitation to be repealed.
