Imphal, April 2 (NNN): A driver and a handyman, who were held captive by unidentified gunmen, freed themselves from the clutches of the miscreants.
Driver E Kumar of Top Khongnang Makhong and handyman Md Ira Khan of Yairipok Phoudel were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on March 31 night from Sekmai area. Their vehicle plies regularly on Dimapur `“Imphal road, and that day, they have dropped their carriage at Chingmeirong and were going to Sekami to have their dinner. There, they were kidnapped from their ten-wheeled truck bearing registration number NL- IG 3654 at around 10 pm. The owner of the truck is one Jay Prakash Singh from Dimapur.
A press meet was held today by the All Manipur Driver Welfare Association at the Manipur Press Club. The two victims and their family members also attended the press meet.
Driver Kumar told media persons that after their abduction, the miscreants took them away in a hilly remote village and kept in a secluded house in a hill top. There, they left the two saying that they should wait and speak with their party leaders. Next morning, in the absence of the miscreants, Kumar and Md Ira Khan freed themselves from the tying ropes and blindfolds and ran for their lives to the nearest inhabited village, which is later identified as Mapao village under Senapati district. The villagers took care of them and later handed over to their family members and the association members, the driver added. The two also showed to the mediapersons their badly-injured feet as they were taken to all distances in bare foot.
A leader of the driver welfare association thanked the residents of Mapao village for their kindness and support, and also appealed those miscreants not to terrorise or hurt the drivers and handymen and if they have any issue, they should deal directly with the vehicle owners.