Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 14, 2010:
Protesting against setting ablaze of a passenger-carrier auto-rickshaw at Taothong, passenger transport service along Uripok-Kangchup road was suspended today.Some persons disguising as passengers boarded an auto-rickshaw owned and driven by one Sapam Angou of Uripok Yambem Leikai at Lamsang and Taothong and set the vehicle ablaze at Taothong Khunou Nityainanda Leirak in the night of February 10. Decrying this act of arson, all passenger carriers including auto-rickshaws, jeeps, mini vans (Tata Magic), mini buses etc operating on Uripok- Kangchup road suspended their service today.
Moreover, passenger vehicle owners, drivers and conductors staged a protest demonstration at Lamsang Keithel.
The protest demonstration was participated by representatives of seven different transport bodies operating along the route.
It is reported that the seven transport associations were served monetary demands by KCP-MC (Lanheiba Meitei).Transporters taking part in the protest demonstration said that they could not afford the amount demanded and that they have not fulfilled the demand.
In addition, most of the vehicles were bought with loans from banks.
Moreover, there were threats from security forces demanding double the amount given to UGs in case any one was giving money to UG groups, they disclosed.
Highlighting all these woes, the transporters appealed to all concerned not to make demands incompatible to their incomes.
They added that they have been struggling to meet both ends with loans taken from banks.