Imphal, April 30: Even as the transporters' agitation of suspending service along the Imphal-Jiribam stretch of the National Highway 53 to protest the extortion demand from underground outfits has completed five days, members of Imphal-Silchar Road Transporters' Welfare Society staged a Wakat Meepham at Jiribam parking today.

Talking to media-persons while the demonstration was underway, the Society secretary observed that the condition of the road has improved following the public outcry for development of the road.

However though the road condition has improved it is really unfortunate that transporters who are in the service of ferrying passengers regardless of the weather condition are being harassed with monetary demands.

The agitating transporters would stay away from doing their service along the said route until and unless an amicable solution is brought about, the secretary said, while appealing to all the organisations to extend their co-operation in settling the issue.

The Wakat Meepham was held from 6 am to 3 pm.

Placards and banners with slogans highlighting the plight of the transporters were used during the demonstration.

The Society has also strongly condemned the assault on driver Sandham Ranjit (25) s/o Yaima of Sekmaijin Thongam Leikai by some miscreants on April 27 for allegedly not stopping the bus somewhere in between Tupul and Noney.

One more succumbs : The death toll in the tragic Singjamei Bazar Naidu building disaster which crumpled down while being demolished illegally on April 22 has reached seven with one succumbing at Shija Hospital here today.

The deceased has been identified l as Jahangir Sheikh (28) of West Bengal, but staying at Minuthong Hatta.

The body has been deposited at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital.

In all six persons had been crushed to death when the building which had been already acquired by the State Government crumbled down while being demolished by some hired labourers and scrap dealers.

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