Trucks stoned, forced to return
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 09 2009: Inspite of setting up a joint control room of the Police, Army and Assam Rifles at the Senapati district headquarters to prevent undue hindrance to vehicular movement along National Highway 39, around 270 trucks returned to Imphal today after some goods laden trucks were stoned and damaged by unidentified miscreants.

Among the trucks that were forced to return empty include 48 LPG carrier bullet vehicles and 40 oil tankers.

The rest were other goods carriers.

The LPG carriers which were forced to turn back

According to the drivers, as the trucks were approaching Senapati town, suspected bandh supporters of the NPO which has been demanding transfer of Senapati DC Nidhi Kesharwani were seen erecting road block near the Senapati Oil Pump along with piling up timber and burning tyres.

Just a little distance from reaching the site of the road block, the trucks were navigating a road turning when the unidentified miscreants started raining stones at the four trucks including a LPG bullet tanker (MN-05A/1258) in the front smashing the windscreens.

On top of this attack, a number of unidentified youths also climbed inside and checked the trucks stationing in between Mayangkhang and Taphou waiting for security escorts.

When the security escorts coming from Imphal said that they would not be able to accompany all the trucks, the drivers had no option but to turn back empty handed, the drivers recounted, adding that though some of the trucks may have been able to reach Mao along with the security escorts, they have no idea how many trucks have gone.

While the trucks were waiting for the security escorts from 11 am to 2 pm, Senapati Police personnel who had come along that side did not even inquire why they were stationing there nor did they try to clear the road block, the aggrieved truck drivers lamented.

Taking serious note of the incident, president of All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers' Union Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh addressed a hurriedly called press conference at Sangakpham later during the day.

Charging the Government with duping the drivers, Bhupenchandra complained that the escorts being provided for the petroleum product-carrier trucks is not enough.

He disclosed that earlier 16 escort parties used to accompany the trucks but now only 8 escort parties are being provided.

On the other hand, according to police report, in all 244 Imphal-bound trucks have crossed Mao Gate at around 4.30 pm today along with the same security escort personnel who had allegedly left telling the truck drivers that they would not be able to accompany all of them.

Out of the 244 escorted trucks, 11 of them are LPG bullet tankers while six are oil tankers.

It may be recalled here that armed cadres of the Naga rebel group NSCN (IM) have forced the LPG bullet tankers to return back to Imphal on two occasions i.e first time on December 8, 2008 and the second time on January 2 this year on alleged ground of not paying the godown taxes.

The first incident had prompted the transporters to launch a cease work strike leading to temporary closure of the LPG bottling plant at Awang Sekmai.

The transporters suspended their agitation following an assurance from the side of the Govt to do the needful.

Consequent to the 2nd incident, police have started investigating along with pulling up two drivers for questioning.