Protesting against the attack, drivers staged a dharna by holding placards and shouting slogans in Sora demanding arrest of culprits within 48 hours failing which they threatened to declare bandh.
TFM Moreh Correspondent
An Eco van driver, who plied on Imphal-Moreh road, on Wednesday alleged that he was attacked by unknown Kuki militant group’s “tax collectors” with a sharp-edged weapon on his face at Chamol village in Tengnoupal district on Tuesday night. Protesting against the attack, drivers staged a dharna by holding placards and shouting slogans in Sora demanding arrest of culprits within 48 hours failing which they threatened to declare bandh.
Narrating his ordeal, the victim, identified as Md Abdul Hakim, 30, son of Abdul Aziz from Sora Keithel, told the media persons that he returned home with some goods at 7 pm after no passenger was found. When he reached Chamol village also known as Zero area, militants’ tax collectors asked him to pay Rs 250 as usual, he said.
However, he objected to the demand as he was carrying a few goods. He asked them to accept Rs 50 and allow him to proceed. To this, they asked him to give Rs 100 and left, Md Abdul Hakim said.
When he refused, he was forcibly detained. After some hours, one of the tax collectors hit him with a sharped-edged weapon as he did not leave the place paying Rs 100, he said. He was bleeding and fell unconscious after the attack, he added.
Later they let him go after seeing blood oozing out his face, he said.
He revealed that the militant group takes Rs 1,500 per annum from Eco van for plying on Imphal-Moreh road and charges Rs 250 per trip if the vehicle is with passengers and goods.