IMPHAL, February 7: Even as the driver and handyman of a Tata truck involved in the transportation of sugar for the FCI have been missing since February 5 from Saparmeina, another truck driver involved in transportation of sugar for the FCI was found dead in a suspicious manner and his handyman found missing from their vehicle near the Nagaland Police Headquarters this morning.
The sugar bags which the truck was transporting back into the state were also missing, informed a source.
The said Tata truck bearing regd no MN 01 5835 had been stationed at the said spot near the Kohima town BOC and about 200 meters from the Nagaland police HQ since February 5 after the truck developed an engine fault.
Police found the dead body of the driver identified as Ningombam Govardhan (43) son of (L) Manihar of Wangjing Hodamba Leirak was found inside the truck while checking it this late morning around 11am.
The truck which belongs to one Ramesh Prashad of Ragailong was returning to Imphal after loading sugar for the FCI.
There were marks on his head which look like he had been hit by something big, said a source. Police had also recovered a big stone from inside the driver’s cabin of the truck, said the source.
Meanwhile, the handyman identified as Khanglan of Churachandpur was missing from the scene along with the sugar bags.
Sources have also informed that the deceased driver, Ningombam Govardhan had left home on January 23
He is said to be survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.
Meanwhile, the search for the missing driver and his handyman of the Tata truck bearing regd no NL 01 G 8914 continued today with state police and the Assam Rifles conducting a search operation at Songlung and its surrounding areas without any success.
The two have been missing since February 5 from Sapermeina near the M Songlung village along the National Highway 2 and was earlier suspected to be kidnapped by unidentified persons.
The owner of the truck is yet to claim the vehicle, informed the source.