Abductions paralyse LPG bottling plant
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 10: Functioning of the newly inaugurated LPG Bottling Plant at Sekmai has come to a grinding halt following the abduction of two drivers of the LPG carriers by armed activists of the proscribed Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) for monetary demands.

The labourers and drivers of the Bottling Plant and the local people jointly took out a protest rally demanding release of the abducted drivers today.

General public staging a rally to protest the abductions of two LPG drivers which have paralysed the functioning of the LPG plant

The protest rally was organised by the Labour Union of the Plant.

The rallyists carried placards and festoons inscribed with slogans like 'Remove ransom', 'KRA release innocent drivers', ' We don't want war, we want LPG', etc during the protest demonstration which was flagged off from the Bottling Plant at around 11 am and proceeded till Sekmai Police Station.

From there, security personnel escorted the president and the secretary of the Labour Union to Imphal where they submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

Talking to mediapersons, Union president S Joy said functioning of the Bottling Plant has stopped since last Monday as there is no more stock following the abduction of two drivers of LPG bulk tankers respectively from Khatkhatti on August 3 and Lalhoria on August 6.As demanded for the safe release of the two drivers, a sum of Rs 25,000 had also been given to KRA, but they have not been released till today, he lamented.

Information received from the Bottling Plant said along with serving a huge monetary demand , the proscribed outfit had threatened to abduct the drivers if the demand is not met.

Although the Manipur DGP had already written a letter to the DGP of Assam for taking up necessary action in connection with abduction of the two drivers, Khatkhatti Police has not yet registered a case.

The LPG Bulk tankers which are stranded at Khatkhatti are likely to be brought to Imphal on Monday.

The memorandum of the Labour Union of the Plant submitted to the Chief Minister said the Plant is providing the means of livelihood to around 100 labourers.

Therefore closing down the Plant would deny employment to the labourers and lead to starvation of their family members.

The Government should take serious note of the matter and take up necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of the Bottling Plant along with providing security to the labourers and the drivers.

Condemning the abduction of two drivers of LPG Bulk tankers, the Union has demanded safe release of the abducted drivers from the custody of KRA immediately.

Construction of the LPG Bottling Plant having production capacity of 10,000 matric tonne in a year began in 2002 and was completed in December last year.

However, it was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on July 29 this year.