IMPHAL, February 9: The state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has called for action against Imphal East DSP (Cdo) P Manjit over his hand in the firing of tear gas shells and mock bombs while family and friends of driver Govardhan who was found dead inside his truck were offering floral tributes to him at Mantripukri today.
It may be mentioned that Gobardhon was found murdered inside his truck at Kohima in Nagaland town along National Highway-2 on February 7 morning, while his handyman and the sugar load in the truck were found tp be missing. His dead body had been brought back from Kohima last night.
The floral tribute paying ceremony was organized by the All Manipur Road transport Drivers’ and Motor Workers’ Union at the Union’s office along the National Highway 2 at Mantripukhri which was disturbed by the arrival of the police team and subsequent firing of tear-gas shells and mock bombs.
At around 8 am, a police team led by DSP (cdo) Imphal East P Manjit arrived and started firing tear gas shells and mock bombs even as the people were offering their floral tributes. Condemning the police action, representatives of the union and JAC formed regarding the death of Govardhan called on the Chief Minister and appealed for action on the incident.
According to a source, during the meeting, the CM expressed that the Kohima Police has made much headway in the case with the recovery of a driving licence speculated to be that of the missing handyman from the Tata truck and the sugar bags which were sold off to a local.
He also assured that the state government will contact his Nagaland counterpart and take actions to nab all those involved in the case, informed a source.
The Chief Minister has said that he will consider all possible help to the family of the dead driver in consultation with his council of Ministers and the state Chief Secretary, informed the source.
The JAC on the other hand, has said that it has decided to receive the dead body only in consideration of the fact that the wife of the deceased is 7-8 months pregnant and that (L) Govardhan’s mother could not consider her son’s body being left without any proper rites and rituals.
Meanwhile, the source said that the state Chief Minister called Clay Khongsa, DIG range I; Kamei Angam, Imphal East and DSP (Cdo) Imphal East P Manjit and demanded action from the DIG over the incident before the representatives of the JAC.