Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24 2009:
Reacting to the observation made by MLA Dr Ng Bijoy on the floor of the Assembly yesterday, during the discussion on the attention motion raised over the report of hijacking a truck laden with life saving drugs in between Kangpokpi and Senapati, KRA has denied its involvement in the hijacking.
Talking to mediapersons at the general headquarters of KRA today, publicity secretary of the armed outfit T Simte said KRA has no connection with hijacking the Tata truck, bringing medicines from Guwahati, and so the observation made by MLA Dr Ng Bijoy merely based on suspicion and without any evidences was regrettable.
None of the KRA cadres are deployed on the National Highway-39 stretch, from Senapati to Kangpokpi, and after signing of the Suspension of Operation (SoO), KRA has also stopped collecting taxes from vehicles plying along the National Highways, Simte informed, adding that the observation of the MLA made in the House, based merely on suspicion is trying to give a wrong impression of the outfit, which is a signatory of SoO, to the people.
In case the MLA was sure that KRA was behind the hijacking then he should have substantiated the charges with evidences, Simte said, adding that police have found out the identities of the gangs which are misusing the name of UG groups and still indulging in collection of taxes from the vehicles along National Highways, from shops in Khwairamband Bazar of Imphal and Government Departments.
Warning against misusing the name of KRA, Simte said action would be taken if any of the gangs hijacked vehicles and give the name of either KRA or NSCN (IM) to the drivers.
KRA would also institute an inquiry into the hijacking of the life-saving drugs laden truck and arrest the hijackers, he disclosed, adding that subsequent to the signing of SoO all the KRA cadres adhere by it.