Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 08 2009:
Even though the All Manipur Tribal Students' Union suspended its economic blockade on the national highways, the chakka bandh launched by the transporters started commencing from August 4 will continue but relaxation will be given to the medicines transporters.
The indefinite chakka bandh on the two national highways (NH-39 and NH-53) was called by four bodies, All Manipur Inter-state Bus Association, All Drivers Welfare Association, Imphal Silcher Road Transporters' Welfare Society and All Manipur Petrolleum Tankers's Driver Union.
Speaking to Huieyen Lanpao, secretary of the Manipur Drivers Welfare Association, an association among the transport organizations launching the chakka bandh, Mutum Tomba reiterated that the chakka bandh was called by four transport bodies on the two national highways, 39 and 53 pressing to fulfilled certain demands put forward to the government.
The demands included setting up of highway protection for checking the atrocities and harassments meted out to the drivers and handymen which they are facing for the last around 20 years and regular patrolling of security personnel along these route for security of the drivers and handymen, a demand pending for long time.
Till adequate security is provided by the government, the bodies will not pull back from the strike but the bodies have agreed to give relaxation to the trucks ferrying medicines items from the chakka bandh, the secretary said.
Reiterating that the chakka bandh will continue, he also said that around 20 inter-state buses have left Imphal for Dimapur and Guwahati.
When enquired into the matter, they came to know that these buses are from outside the state.