A team of Manipur special commando unit rescued one goods truck driver who was detained and physically assaulted allegedly by suspected NSCN (I-M) members at Merryland Part 5 along Imphal-Jiribam national highway at about 3 pm on Tuesday.
The driver has been identified as one Nongyaimayum Firoz Khan, 39, son of N Abdul Kalam from Lilong Turel Ahanbi Boroi Makhong, Thoubal district.
Police reported that the special commando team was going along the national highway on official duty when it saw a goods truck parked on the roadside along the national highway at Merryland part 5 which falls under the jurisdiction of Noney police station.
When the commando personnel stopped their vehicle and met the assistant driver of the said truck, they were told that the driver of the goods truck had been kidnapped by some miscreants suspected to members of NSCN (I-M) in connection with illegal tax.
The special commando team conducted a cordon and search operation in the surrounding area instantly.
During the operation, the police team found Firoz from a bush while the miscreants escaped from the area by taking advantage of dense forest, police reported.
Firoz said that two persons suspected to be NSCN (I-M) members, stopped their vehicle and demanded tax. When he told them that he did not have enough money for the said amount they demanded, he was physically assaulted using a bamboo cane and they also tried to kidnap him.
Although the state government has been stating that the law and order situation has improved since the past few years, highway commuters, goods vehicles still continue to face these circumstances concerning illegal tax along the national highways of Manipur.
