Auto drivers gang loots Union Under Secretary

GUWAHATI, April 4 — That the city is fast emerging as the safest haven for the criminals has again been proved by an incident of looting Dr K Sreenivasalu, Under Secretary (ADIV) of the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development by some armed miscreants last evening of Rs 13,000 and his luggage. According to the complaint lodged by Dr Sreenivasalu with the Director General of Police, Assam here today he, along with his wife arrived at the Guwahati Railway Station by the 2423 down Rajdhani Express, on their way to Shillong headquarters of the North Eastern Council, last evening. He hired two autorickshaws to proceed to the Circuit House here. In one (AS-01 N 1709) he loaded his luggage and he along with his wife boarded the other autorickshaw (AS-01 N 9443). The first autorickshaw fled away with his luggage and the other took the Sreenivasalus to Kharghuli. The driver of the second autorickshaw then demanded Rs 5,000 from Dr Sreenivasalu and when he argued with the autorickshaw operator five other youths and a woman threatened the HRD officer with dire consequences. Later on, one of the five youths at the point of a pistol snatcked away Rs 13,000 from Dr Sreenivasalu. However, with the help of a local gentleman Aswini Baruah, a grocer in the area, Dr Sreenivasalu could manage to come out of the area hiring a rickshaw. Dr Sreenivasalu is presently staying at the Guwahati Circuit House.