Imphal, December 20 2008: It has been alleged that the December 8 incident of forcing 20 LPG carrier bullet trucks to return to Imphal from Maram for not paying 'taxes', by the armed cadres of the NSCN-IM, which is in truce with the Government of India, had taken place inspite of the presence of escort party of the State security forces.

According to information received by the press, the trucks were being escorted by the State security forces when the incident took place and transporters had promptly reported the matter to top officials of the Police Department when they arrived at Imphal.

However, even after 12 days of the incident, no action had been taken up in this regard.

Before the LPG bottling plant at Sekmai was operational, the distributors used to go to refineries/plants at Assam to fill the domestic LPG cylinders at their own risk and at that time they used to pay godown taxes to the NSCNIM.

So when the armed outfit insisted on continued payment of godown taxes, the distributors made it clear that they would not be able to comply with the demand as the filling of LPG cylinders are now being done from Sekmai.

Inspite of that armed cadres of NSCN (IM) not only forced 20 LPG carrier bullet trucks to return back to Imphal on December 8 but also detained one bullet truck on December 10 demanding payment of Rs 15 lakhs as godown taxes from the side of the distributors and the bottling plant at Sekmai.

Following the decision of the transporters not to lift LPG cylinders with effect from December 8 after the said incident, activities of the bottling plant at Sekmai has also come to a grinding halt since December 16.The truck which had been detained, however, has returned to Imphal.

According to an official source, if the situation continue to remain this way, after 10 days there would be no LPG filled-cylinders even in the black market.

'For us there is no problem.

The only problem is lack of material', the source added.

On the other hand, individuals who are either directly or indirectly involved in the trade wondered whether the State Government has surrendered to the diktat of the NSCN-IM and questioned why the Government has not taken up any action against the escort commander and other security personnel in connection with forceful return of 20 trucks to Imphal by the cadres of the outfit inspite of their presence.

Now it appears that the escort provided within Nagaland by the security forces of that State is more reliable than the escort system of the State, they rued.

Sekmai plant goes empty: LPG stock at Sekmai Bottling Plant has completely gone empty.

On the other hand, transporters are unable to go for ferrying LPG as the State Government has not been providing security escorts.

An IOC official informed The Sangai Express that the LPG stock at Sekmai Bottling Plant was reduced to nil following suspension of LPG transport from beyond the State in the aftermath of hijacking one LPG carrier.

Although transporters intend to resume their service, they are unable to go for ferrying LPG as the Government is not providing them security escorts, the official disclosed.

The State requires 400 truck loads of LPG every month.

But only 25 percent of the required quantity were distributed to consumers this month as transporters could not bring the required quantity to the State due to strikes, bandhs and various other reasons.

Last month too, the State had to forgo 107 truck loads of LPG as the same could not be transported due to various factors, conveyed the official.

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