KANGPOKPI, March 7: A Tata Winger driver who has been kidnapped from along the National Highway 2 on February 21 by unknown miscreants was found shot dead this morning from the hill lock of Molvom Village under Kangpokpi Police jurisdiction in Sadar Hills, Senapati district.
The body was found by local jhum farmers who were on their way to their fields this morning at the hill lock near the roadside between Molvom village and Ichailamlan village approximately 11 Km. southeast of Kangpokpi Police Station and informed the matter to the police.
Soon after, a team of Kangpokpi police personnel led by L Haokip, OC (Independent charge), Kpi PS and Minthang Kipgen, II OC went to the spot and recovered the body at around 10.30 this morning.
Police recovered one empty case and a wallet from the spot.
According to police sources, the deceased has been identified as one Monas Ali, 22, son of Matalim Ali of Sukhanjan, Assam under Bokajan Police Station and temporarily residing at Uripok, Imphal.
The deceased Monas Ali is a driver of a Tata Winger bearing regd no. AS09-C/6892 plying between Imphal and Dimapur along National Highway 2. The owner of the vehicle is Chandraman Rai from Khatkhati, Assam informed a well placed source.
The source also added that last month, the vehicle owner had received a monetary demand of Rs 15 lakh from an unidentified person suspected to be a cadre of a hill based militant outfit.
Mention may be made that Kangpokpi Police recovered the vehicle suspected to be the one Monas Ali was driving frm Mongbung Village approximately 15 Km. Southeast of Sapormeina PS on February 22 last and kept at the Police Station.
The dead body of Monas Ali has been brought to Imphal this evening for post mortem by Kangpokpi police and deposited at the RIMS mortuary.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons at the RIMS Morgue, Pemo Asem general secretary Manipur Inter State Taxi service worker association said that they strongly condemned the killing of the driver for ransom and also appealed to stop harassing drivers of the state.
He said Manas Ali alias Shotu driver of the Tata Winger AS-09G/6892 was reserved by two unknown persons from North AOC Imphal to Dimapur Winger parking on February 22 at around 11 am on the pretext of carrying a patient up to Dimapur for treatment and had remained traceless ever since.
The Tata Winger was recovered by the police after three days on February 25 at Molvom Village near by the area from where his body was recovered today.
The body was found with a bullet injury on his head on the left side which pass through the right side this morning at around 8 am, police said.
Police further said that they have found an empty case from near the body.
According to the reliable source Kidnapper had served a monetary demand of Rs 50 lakh to the owner of Tata Winger Chandrakumar.