Transporters, drivers intensify stand on National Highway 39
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 19 2010:
Normal vehicular traffic on the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 failed to resume today even though the stretch is free from all sorts of agitations after both NSF and ANSAM lifted ban on Manipur vehicles and economic blockade except the collection of money by NGOs.
NGOs in Nagaland is still collecting money has been proved when a receipt acknowledgment issued by the Dimapur Naga Students' Union was seized from a truck among two freight trucks damaged by the members of the Transporters' and Drivers' Council today at Sekmai.
Members of the Transporters' and Drivers' Council today caused damages to least two trucks allegedly for defying the decision of the council not to ply the Imphal-Dimapur section of NH-39 while another truck met with accident while avoiding attack to take the toll vehicle damage by the council for defying not to ply the NH-39 to four.
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Even though the economic blockade imposed by the ANSAM withdrawn temporary from 4 pm of Friday, no truck or bus left Imphal on the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39, the Transporters' and Drivers' Council, an apex body of the vehicle owners and drivers has decided not to take the route till their demands are fulfilled.
The apex body is demanding assurances from the Nagaland government and Central government to make Manipur vehicles free from all sorts of "illegal taxes" collection by various underground groups and non-governmental organisations within Nagaland state and adequate compensation to the trucks damaged in Nagaland during the 68-day blockade.
Interestingly, the two trucks, including the vehicle which met mishap, loaded with fertilizers were among five trucks proceeded to Imphal yesterday reportedly after paying Rs 25,000 to a students' body based at Dimapur for allowing them to cross Nagaland, reports said.
Entry permission to Nagaland issued by Dimapur Naga Student Union was found from one of the damaged trucks.
The permission was issued on June 16 last ahead of ending the economic blockade of ANSAM but after Naga Students' Federation (NSF) relaxed ban on Manipur vehicles in Nagaland.
The trucks headed Imphal after allegedly paying Rs 25,000 to the Union, revealed volunteers council talking to this correspondent when contacted.
The event shows that still some NGOs and underground groups are intended to collect money from the Manipur vehicles whenever they get chance, they added.
The two trucks were damaged this morning, at about 7 am at Sekmai Bazar where the council detailed its members to check movement of inter-state freight trucks and buses.
They smashed windshield of the truck (MN01A-9831) loaded with Urea fertilizer coming from Dimapur while the other 407 tata (also loaded with fertilizer) coming from Kangpokpi.
Another vehicle AS01R-8191 met with accident at Khonghampat on the stretch of the highway after escaping from attack by the members of council.
The driver and handyman escaped unhurt.
Three other trucks that had crossed Mao gate yesterday, according to police report, were not reaching Imphal.
They might have stranded midway due to fear of attacking by the supporters of Transporters' and Drivers' Council.
On the other hand, except 10 vehicles (two passenger bus and eight freight trucks) left Jiribam with security escorts on the NH-53 are yet to arrive here in Imphal owing to recurrence of landslide at various section of the highway due to heavy rainfall, police said.
Over 700 freight trucks were reportedly stranded at various places beyond Noney and Tupul of the highway.
Around 400 trucks are stranded beyond Tupul and 300 beyond Noney, official reports said.