Imphal, December 27 2008: Following the State Government's apprising about the NSCN (IM)'s demand of Rs 13 lakhs as godown tax from the Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant and LPG transporters to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ceasefire Monitoring Group, NSCN (IM) has withdrawn its demand.

According to official sources, LPG transporters and distributors talked about the NSCN (IM)'s demand with the Chief Secretary yesterday.

Subsequently, the State Government took up the matter with the Union Home Ministry and chairman of Ceasefire Monitoring Group General Mandhatta.

Later, the State Government was informed about the rebel group withdrawing its demand, conveyed the source.

Following withdrawal of the demand for godown tax, representatives of the All Manipur LPG Bulk Transporters' Association held a meeting with State Government officials in the conference hall of the Chief Minister this evening.

The State Government was represented by the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), DGP and FCS Commissioner.

Six representatives of the LPG transporters' body also attended the meeting.

The transporters conveyed their gratitude to the State Government for its effort to prevail over the rebel group to withdraw its demand for godown tax.

They also appreciated the NSCN (IM)'s decision to withdraw its demand .

However, they explained the difficulties and inconveniences faced by them under Government's arrangement of providing security escorts to LPG transporters only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in a week.

To this, the State Government assured all possible security measures to the transporters, including re-opening of an IRB post at Khatkhati.

The transporters conveyed that the IRB post opened at Khatkhati earlier was able to check monetary demands and harassments of transporters by armed elements in the area.

The LPG transporters are likely to leave Imphal for refineries at Assam with security escorts on Monday, they said while talking to The Sangai Express.

Following the diktats of the NSCN (IM), LPG carriers had stopped services leading to shortage of cooking gas.

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