KANGPOKPI, December 27: One loaded truck has been partially burnt while a second truck was completely burnt down near Senapati District Headquarter yesterday night at around 1:30 pm in the 72-hour bandh in all the ‘Naga areas’ by the United Naga Council (UNC). There is no report of any casualty. Senapati Police recovered the partially burnt truck and kept it in their custody.
Sahid Ali, 35, of Sanggaiyumpham, Thoubal District, the driver of the burnt down truck said, “We were very much aware of the UNC bandh and thought that we could cross the area before the bandh came into effect. Accordingly we reach here at around 11 pm.”
He further said that one Maruti 800 bearing no registration number overtook the trucks and that unidentified persons got down from the car stopped the two trucks, dragging the drivers from the trucks. Later they took the two drivers to an unknown place and set about burning the vehicles, Sahid alleged.
Police sources suspect UNC bandh supporters in the incident. According to S.I. Th. Ngouni, 2nd Officer in-charge of Senapati Police Station, “When the incident of burning the vehicle was reported to the police, we immediately rushed to the spot along with the 109 Bn CRPF posted at District Council, Senapati. We are still investigating the incident.”
Following the UNC call for a 72 hour bandh in the hill districts of the state, business establishments remained shut while vehicles stayed off the roads in Senapati.
Meanwhile, a press conference was held at the office chamber of L Kailun, Inspector General Law and order today evening regarding the burning down of two FCI trucks at Vakha under Senapati district by suspected UNC bandh supporters.
Speaking to media persons at his office chamber, IG (law and order) said that the two FCI trucks were burnt down when they were parked at Vakha, about three and half kilometer before Senapati district head quarters on 27 December. The trucks has crossed the Mao gate before 10 pm of 26 December he said. He further said that it is not known as to why the two trucks did not come along with the convoy sent for escorting oil tankers and other vehicles from Dimapur on 26. “It is not clear why the two trucks did not straight away go on further from Mao for if they done so, they might have been able to reach Kangpokpi by midnight. If they two trucks had crossed the Kangpopki area, then the incident might have been avoided,” said L Kailun.
He further said that the drivers and handymen have been detained by the Senapati police for questioning and said that trucks were transporting FCI rice under an agent who happens to be the son of Woda Joran, a TNC candidate in the last general election from the Mao assembly constituency. Further, the trucks bearing registration number JH-02L / 9395 and belongs to one Md Rijajuddin of Lilong Makha while the second vehicle bearing registration number WB 59A / 4413 belongs to Md Rijuwan, also of Lilong Makha Leikai.