The drivers ferrying passengers and goods along the Imphal–Moreh road today suspended service decrying the brutal killing of a fellow driver whose body has been found at Phesama in Kohima district in Nagaland on Saturday.
According to Khundrakpam Binodkumar of the All Imphal-Moreh Drivers’ Union, the victim, Yanglem Priyobrata, was allegedly hired by one man named Heisnam James for travelling to Dimapur on 30 December 2022 but had gone missing since until his corpse was recovered on 7 January 2023.
The drivers’ union strongly condemned the incident and demanded capital punishment for the culprits behind the killing of the driver and owner of the Ecco Van.
Yengkhom Ibemcha, Priyobrata’s wife, lodged a missing report with the Bishnupur police station on 2 January as her husband was not attending to her calls and his phone was later switched off.
Meanwhile, the Imphal Free Press reported today that a couple had been arrested for the murder of Priyobrata.
The report stated, “during an interrogation carried out by Irilbung Police Station regarding a similar case, it was revealed that James had killed Y Priyobrata and left the body at Kedima Veswama Bypass under Khuzhama Police Station in Nagaland.”
The IFP further reported: “Around 11.30am on Saturday, a team of Bishnupur Police Station found the mortal remains of Y Priyobrata from under a large culvert which is located at a deserted spot near Kedima Veswama Bypass.”
It also said that according to its sources, “James has a history of pawning off vehicles he had borrowed from others and was involved in many such cases”.
“James and his wife returned to Imphal and sold off the van on December 31,” it added.
According to the IFP report, Khoirom ningol Heisnam ongbi Sandhyarani, James’ wife, had also surrendered to the police at Women Police Station, Senapati district.
“According to the police, they have found certain evidence that James was also involved in supplying betel leaves from Imphal to a UG group in Dimapur.” it stated.
Meanwhile, women activists in Manipur imposed an indefinite blockade on the Imphal–Tiddim road passing through three districts yesterday in protest against the reported kidnapping and murder of the driver.
