IMPHAL, February 4: Unidentified miscreants assaulted and then looted drivers and the handymen of two rice laden trucks of the FCI which were stationed near the Sangaiprou Kabui Village gate under Lamphel Police Station last night around 11. Sources said the miscreants went away after taking money and mobile phones from the truck drivers and handymen.
The Highway Truck Owners`™ Welfare Organisation general secretary Laishram Ratan Khuman and Manipur Drivers`™ Welfare Association, MDWA secretary Tomba Singh identified the registration numbers of the two trucks as NL 01/G 2563 and AS 17 B 0286.
They identified the driver of the first truck as Augustine Mao, 28 son of Phokholo Mao of Makhan Village, Senapati.
The miscreants came towards Augustine`™s truck and asked for a match box and on receiving the match box, they asked for a glass, Ratan said adding that when Augustine replied that there is no glass in his vehicle, the miscreants grabbed him and pull him down from the vehicle.
The miscreants then assaulted him along with his wife identified as Asi Kekho, 26, and brother in law Ato, 23 of Chumukedima, Dimapur who were in the vehicle and then took the woman in front of the truck and took her picture with a mobile phone.
They left with the driver`™s mobile phone after breaking the window glass and the wind shield of the vehicle left with the mobile phone of the driver, Ratan told media persons.
Soon after, the driver of another rice laden truck waiting to be unloaded at the FCI godown was also pulled down from his vehicle and assaulted, Ratan said before identifying the driver as Laishram Basanta Singh, 26, son of L Bonodbabu Singh of Cachar Jiribon.
The miscreants also broke the windshield and window glass of the truck before and decamp from the scene along Rs 7200 in cash and a mobile phone from the driver.
In connection with the incident, the two associations have filed a written complaint to the Lamphel Police and the police have also assured to arrest the miscreants by 10am tomorrow, he said.
At the same time, the two associations will be submitting a plea to the FCI authorities soon to provide protection and security to the trucks transporting items for FCI, he said.