Imphal, January 04 2008: Amid severe shortage of cooking gas (LPG) in the State owing to alleged monetary demand by the NSCN (IM), Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) General Mandhita has reportedly denied that the Naga rebel group had made any such demand.

According to a highly placed source here, the CFMG Chairman contacted officials concerned of the State Government and issued a clarification that officially cleared the NSCN (IM) from any involvement in levying tax of Rs 15 lakh from the Sekmai Gas (LPG) Bottling Plant as well as LPG distributors.

Apart from denying involvement of the IM group, which is currently observing a ceasefire and having talks with New Delhi, Gen Mandhita is said to have commented that involvement of the rebel outfit's splinter/breakaway group/s making the monetary demand could not be ruled out.

Significantly the Army officer, according to the source, sought detailed information from the State government such as schedule of movement of bullet tankers/LPG carriers, the exact location where the incident of stopping and turning back the vehicles occurred so that the Army could initiate necessary action.

More information on the LPG impasse could be extracted by The Sangai Express when contact was established with the individual through the telephone (mobile) number which was reportedly handed to Bullet Tanker operators for communication on the tax demand.

The individual in question claiming to be a member of the GPRN also conveyed his name and designation in the outfit but insisted that such details should not be published in the newspaper as he is not authorised to comment on the matter by the GPRN's Ministry of Information and Publicity.

Conceding that the tax demand was indeed made, he said to establish mutual understanding and sustain cordiality between the outfit and the transporters/distributors the said amount was 'urged' verbally as favourable response from the distributors was expected.

Further insisting that distributors ought to cough up the said amount, the GPRN member contended that as 30 percent tax is being levied by the Government from the distributors the GPRN insistence for the minimal amount is justifiable as LPG carriers (bullet tankers) pass through GPRN territories.

Informing that the tax demand was made verbally and no demand letter had been served on the matter, he also held the authorities of the Sekmai Bottling Plant responsible for the shortage in cooking gas faced by consumers of Manipur.

Further expressing that the issue could have been resolved through negotiation, the GPRN member also disclosed of LPG distributors in the 'Group A' category of amassing income to the tune of Rs 25 lakh annually whereas profit earned for every truck load of LPG stands at Rs 2000 .

Taking into account the profit figure of the distributors the GPRN merely sought minimal contribution, he reiterated during the telephonic conversation.

The individual also recounted when LPGs were carried in 'pack truck' the NSCN (IM) used to levy godown tax but the tax collection module had to be dropped as the sekmai Bottling Plant technically served as the LPG storage godown.

He also disclosed that after setting up of the Sekmai plant the IM group had been levying daily tax of Rs 300 for each truck-load or Rs 5000 annually.

In another startling revelation some bullet tanker operators speaking to the Sangai Express at near the Sekmai bottling plant on condition of anonymity contended that there is strong apprehension of certain drivers conniving with the armed group in the godown tax demand of Rs 15 lakh against the distributors.

Claiming that about 10 bullet tanker operators out of many drivers engaged for supply to the Plant operate as a different constellate seldom interacting with their colleagues (majority group) .

Coincidentally, the two bullet tanker drivers reportedly at the custody of the rebel group are from this cluster, they claimed and provided inputs with regard to the hijack of a bullet tanker in December last from near Maram.

Identifying driver of the hijacked bullet tanker as a Nepali individual called Raman, the drivers during the interaction at the Sekmai plant insisted that Raman was reluctant to share information regarding the hijack story other than saying that the vehicle was taken to an interior location in Senapati district.

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