IMPHAL, July 8: A fire brigade driver, Oinam Premkumar,aged 40, son of (L) Birahangsha of Thoubal Athokpam today called a press conference at the Manipur Press Club alleging that he has been robbed of Rs 12 lakh and held ransom by the same group of unknown persons for a sum of Rs 2 lakh.
Speaking to media persons, he said that he had contacted some individuals regarding the purchase of a Scorpio vehicle on June 20.
He said he had previously met with the unknown persons, two tribal and a non-local sometime back and had discussed about meeting on June 20 in front of the ABC Godown Khuyathong regarding the purchase.
While test driving the vehicle which was black in colour however without a registration number, the three took him hostage and took him to an unknown place after making him unconscious and robbed him of his Rs 12 lakh.
The three later send a message to his wife’s number demanding Rs 2 lakh for his safe release.
The amount was to be delivered at Ukhrul district headquarters before June 27.
However he managed to escaped from their custody on June 24 and found himself in front of the Senapati Police Station late in the evening.
He was dropped at Awang Sekmai by a team of Senapati police.
He was later picked up from the place by a City police team led by OC Tejbir and his family members.
The police team left his family members and himself at Lilong, from there he was directly taken to the Thoubal CHC and treated, he said.
He has appealed to the concerned police to arrest the perpetrators who robbed him of his Rs 12 lakh.