Imphal, July 02: As part of the state Government measures to address the problems of extortion and �illegal tax� levied upon transporters along the Imphal-Moreh route Manipur Rifles and India Reserve Battalion personnel would be deployed at two places at the earliest.

Conveying this to media-persons during a joint press conference today secretary of Manipur Drivers Welfare Association Kh Ibohal and general secretary of Transport Joint Coordinating Committee Ng Haridas said agreement has also been reached during a meeting with Additional DGP (Law & order) C Peter Ngahanyui to check imposition of unauthorized tax levied at Customs, forest, Police and Excise check posts along the commercial route.

The unauthorized taxation concerns those levied by personnel of Customs, Excise, Police and Forest departments against import of items that has been not included in the border trade list but considered essential items for the State consumers, they said.

Accepting the fact that these uniformed personnel have been collecting taxes at random the ADGP assured to issue necessary instructions and look into the matter to curtail undesired hassles.

On deployment of MR and IRB personnel the meeting also attended by representatives of various NGOs and transport bodies agreed for opening an 8 MR post at Tengnoupal while IRB personnel would be posted at Moreh Bus Terminus to enhance security coverage.

Similar arrangement would be taken up at Pallel check post, they informed on the agreement arrived at the meeting held today and added proposal was also made to the State Govt to initiate some form of taxation at the international boundary and Moreh gates to supplement State economy.

Constitution of a committee comprising of members of Meitei Council Moreh, Hill Tribals� Council, Moreh and JAC Imphal Moreh Road Transporters Assn was also agreed at the meeting to review problems of illegal tax collection and extortion along this route particularly in areas between Pallel, Tengnoupal and Moreh.

The meeting was also attended by MCM president N Pulindro and HTC advisor Chungsei Haokip.

The meeting also had extensive discussion on the ongoing agitation of the transporters to protest increase in harassments and continuing problem of extortion with the propose joint committee members scheduled to conduct a �mission� to find out main cause of the problems and steps to deal with it.

Kh Ibohal also informed of bandh supporters pelting stones and damaging a passenger bus (MN01/1204) for violating the bandh on June 30 at near Thamnapokpi, a day after the bandh was imposed.

He further alleged that three Maruti Vans (MN04/6480, MN04/8536 & MN1A/2709) and a Tata Sumo (MN1K/0258) were found continuing passenger service at the same route despite knowing the fact that bandh call was given.

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