Off loaded rice, cement recovered
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 15 2010: Rice and cement bags which were off loaded from FCI trucks coming from Jiribam by suspected armed cadres of NSCN (IM) at Noney yesterday have been recovered after a joint operation by Assam Rifles and Police.

Interestingly, the goods were off loaded in the presence of the security escorts provided by the State Government.

Meanwhile, transporters and FCI have asserted that the yesterday's incident was due to lapses on the part of the security personnel.

According to police source, the missing rice and cement bags were recovered during a search operation launched jointly under the command of SP of Tamenglong Gonglin Phaomei and Commandant of 26 Assam Rifles Gourav Chaturvedi from a spot located a little further from Noney Bazar.

The loaded trucks which were retrieved (inset) rice being off loaded

In all 231 rice bags that were pulled down from five trucks and 60 cement bags that were taken down from one truck have been recovered and the same kept in the custody of the Assam Rifles.

However, there is no report of any arrest in connection with this incident.

On the other hand, transporters and FCI have alleged security lapses over the yesterday's incident at Noney.

Transporters informed that the incident was immediately reported to Noney Police Outpost and 26 Assam Rifles.

But they did nothing.

They recalled that the armed cadres who intercepted the loaded trucks were in civvies.

They were around 15 and identified themselves as cadres of NSCN (IM) and NNC.

In all seven drugs have been intercepted.

After forcing the drivers and the handymen to get down, the armed cadres took away the vehicle documents, keys and mobile phones, the trucks were driven to a nearby ground .

There, the rice bags were loaded into a Shaktiman (MN-04T/0198) and later taken to a grocery shop and a hardware shop near Noney Police Outpost.

Before letting the trucks to go, the armed cadres threatened the drivers saying that it was the first warning and from next time all the trucks whether escorted by security personnel or not, should sign the entry at Noney.

Otherwise, the trucks would be ambushed, the transporters informed, adding an attempt was also made to set on fire one of the trucks and the driver as well as the handyman were assaulted, they added.

Another group of armed men who identified themselves as cadres of NSCN (K) took Rs 500 from each of the trucks and let go, the transporters informed.

Gen secy of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union H Kullamani said that yesterday's incident was nothing but leaving the drivers and helpers to their own fate by the security escort.

An FCI official has also asserted security lapses was behind the yesterday's incident.

Conveying that all the seven trucks have been reported back to the FCI godown at Sangaiprou, the official informed that a case has been registered with the police.

But how many rice bags have been exactly taken down is yet to be ascertained.