Killing of a bus driver evokes protest, causes outrage in public of Manipur

Imphal, Sep.16 (ANI): Life was paralysed after bus drivers stopped work in protest against the killing of a driver in Manipur. The killing was condemned by several organizations in the state.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead 28-year-old driver Ngangam Basanta alias Momo from Nambol in Imphal. He was killed along Tiddim road near Phabakchao Ithai Bus Stand the gunmen pulled him out of the bus.

The wife and two children of the driver are still in a state of shock.

"I have two small children, a five-year-old child and the other child is not even two years of age. I don't know what to do. I want to know who the culprits are," said Tombi, victim's wife in Imphal.

Following the incident, family members and residents of Nambol staged a sit in protest. They also blocked vehicles plying along Tiddim road at Nambol Chingmang.

The Imphal-Churachandpur Bus Owners and Workers Association, All Manipur Roads Transport Drivers and Motor Workers and Tiddim Roads Drivers Union submitted a memorandum to the State government.

They demanded that the guilty should be punished according to law.

"We are hurt by this incident. We work for the welfare of people of Manipur, day in and day out transporting passengers and essential commodities to all the remote areas of the State. We do not want this to happen again. We condemn it," said N.D Singh, a driver.

"As civilians, we do not agree with anyone attacking drivers or for that matter attacking anybody. We condemn such attacks. All sections should come forward for peaceful talks," said Khumchand, a passenger.

However, after the killing of the bus driver, Basanta, Bishnupur district police commandos launched an operation after they received information that some Military Defense Force (MDF), a faction of the KYKL militant outfit were operating in the area.

The police commandos gunned down three cadres of the Military Defense Force (MDF), of whom; one was involved in killing of the bus driver. Several arms and ammunition were also recovered during the operation. (ANI)