IMPHAL, February 8: The Nagaland Police have made some headway in the suspected murder case of a Tata Truck driver transporting sugar whose dead body was found inside his own truck on Thursday near the Nagaland Police Headquarters at Kohima.
The Kohima South Police are also said to have recovered 177 sugar bags which were sold off to a local and the identity card of the handyman.
The handyman has been identified as Thanlal, son of Hennah of Kotlen, Churachandpur and the owner of the truck is one Ramesh Prasad of Ragailong.
The deceased driver was identified as Ningombam Govardhan, 43 son of (L) Manihar of Wangjing Hodamba Leirak.
The Tata Truck ferrying sugar for the FCI was carrying 199 bags of sugar on February 5 when it developed engine failure and had to stop at a spot near the Kohima Town BOC which is just about 200 metre from the Nagaland Police HQ.
Sources have informed that along with the dead body of the driver, the police had also recovered a driving licence of the handyman who is missing as of now.
The police have also recovered the 177 bags of the total 199 sugar bags from a local man who has now informed the police that the bags were sold to him on February 5. When shown the driving licence of the handyman, the local identified the handyman as the one who had sold him the sugar, said the source.
The sugar bags were sold at the rate of Rs 700 per bag, and the Kohima police has conducted a major manhunt for the missing handyman, informed the source.
It is learnt that the deceased Govardhan had only recently started driving for Ramesh Prasad and this was only his second trip.
Meanwhile, the dead body has been brought back after post mortem was conducted at the Kohima Hospital.
Locals of Wangjing Hodamba conducted a public meeting at the local playground from 3pm to 5pm and formed a JAC regarding the incident.
The meeting also set a February 10 deadline for the authorities to find the truth behind the incident and has decided not to receive the body until the authorities find the reason behind the killing.
It was also decided to launch different forms of agitation in case of failure on the part of the authorities’ to meet the February 10 deadline.
Meanwhile, the Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council and the All Manipur Drivers’ Motor Workers’ Union called a press conference today at the AMDMWU office.
Speaking to media persons, spokesperson Hamom Kulamani said the family will recieve the dead body tomorrow.
He continued, that vehicles under the two bodies including trucks, passenger buses and others will remain off the NH 2 while (L) Ningombam Govardhan dead body is on his pyre.
Meanwhile, the water tankers in the state has also decided to stop working tommorrow.
He further said, truck owner ramesh Prasad, 56 of Ragailong should pay monetary compensation to the family of the deceased.
Ng Haridas Singh TDC, secretary further said that the two bodies have decided to stay off NH 2 and if any untoward incident happens to any one defying the resolution it will be their own responsibility.
He further said that the two bodies further appeal to all concern to stop picking state vehicles to be used during the Nagaland election.