25 trucks, 45 bullet tankers arrive

Imphal, Jan 11 : AMIDST THE ongoing economic blockade called by the Naga People's Organisation (NPO) along the national highway (NH) 39 leading to Manipur and the various issues surrounding it, 25 (twenty-five) loaded trucks have reportedly left the Mao Gate in the Manipur-Nagaland border on Saturday evening amidst tight security and escort by the 2nd MR towards Imphal.

As per reports reaching here, 25 (twenty-five) loaded trucks and 45 bullet tankers left Mao Gate this evening around 3.25 and are headed for the state capital, Imphal escorted by personnel of the 2nd MR.Manipur Works minister K.Ranjit along with media persons have gone to meet the drivers of the trucks at the Mao Gate area this morning.

However, tilt the filing of this report, the minister and the media persons were yet to return to Imphal.

This comes in close heels of the reported incident of Friday wherein 270 trucks heading for outside the state where stoned by bandh supporters thus forcing them to return to Imphal.

In the reported incident, windshields of four of the trucks were broken.

Following this incident, the All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union and Manipur Drivers' Welfare Association had decided for a meeting on Saturday but was reportedly called off citing no specific reason.

Meanwhile, expressing concern over the lack of security and escort for the trucks, Bhupenchandra Ghosh, president, All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union informed that there was fear in the minds of the drivers especially in their journey between Mao to Motbung.

He also stated that the numbers of escorts was too less in comparison to the high number of trucks.

He however, had high praises for the escorts between Khatkhati in Assam to Mao in Manipur.

Further expressing concern over the condition of the NH 39, the president stated that the condition of the road be improved as soon as possible.

Stating that it was also a matter of health concern for the drivers, Bhupenchandra Ghosh added that the bad condition of the highway could lead to accidents thus threatening the lives of the drivers.

Blockade supporters force trucks to return to Imphal

Imphal , Jan 10 About 270 trucks on way to Assam for bringing essential items to Manipur have returned from Senapati district of Manipur due to the prevailing tension in the area in view of the ongoing economic blockade by a Naga organisation, official reports today said.

The trucks, including oil tankers, were stopped at Taphou area on nationalhighway (NH) 39 ( Imphal -Dimapur-Guwahati) by supporters of Naga People&aposs Organisation (NPO) who had launched an economic blockade, the reports said.

Stones were also pelted at the vehicles, the reports said.

The security personnel escorting the empty trucks chased the blockade supporters who fled to the nearby hills, the reports said.

The truck drivers decided to return to the Manipur capital complex in view of the prevailing tension in Senapati district, the reports said.

The NPO has been demanding transfer of deputy commissioner Nidhi Kerwani on alleged misutilisation of rural area development funds which was denied by latter&aposs office.

NH 39 is considered to be main&aposlifeline&aposof Manipur as all essential items, including cooking gas, petrol and other things are transported daily to the state from Assam by more than 400 trucks.

President of All Manipur Petroleum Drivers' Union Y. Bhupen said they would stop collecting petrol from Assam till there was a settlement between government and the NPO. PTI TP MM

Security beefed-up at Sekmai, Senapati

Imphal, Dec 21 : Commuters faced severe inconveniences as suspected bandh supporters pelted stones at vehicles, particularly passenger carriers at Sekmai area today forcing security force personnel to fire tear gas and rubber bullet to control the situation.

On the otherhand, with the Naga people's Organisation (NPO) observing bandh at Senapati district where suspected bandh supporters targeted a passenger bus yesterday security measures have been tightened to thwart violent attempts.

On the second day of the indefinite bandh call being enforced by the JAC formed against the killing of one Maharabam Rajen of Sekmai Khunou Mathak Leikai protestors set ablaze tyres and other inflammable items at various points of the National Highway 39 stretch to prevent plying of vehicles.

With the bandh supporters barricading the vital route Sekmai police station personnel and Imphal West district commandos had a torrid time in dispersing the agitators and clearing the road of debris.

In the wake of gunning down of M Rajen at his own courtyard on December 13 night the JAC was formed and a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister demanding that the State authorities nail and punish the assailants.

According to sources, with the intention of discouraging transporters from plying past Sekmai areas the bandh supporters splashed motor lubricants from early morning at various pockets including at Sekmai Bazar, Koujengleima, Pangaltabi, Nongthongband and Kanglatongbi areas besides setting afire tyres and wastes.

As preventive measures, the security teams also stopped several passenger carriers coming towards Imphal as well as those heading out of the State capital and escorted the passengers across the bandh enforced section on foot.

Inspite of the security steps bandh supporters rushed out of their hiding places and pelted stones thereby inflicting damage to windshields of some vehicles that drove close to the affected zone.

Strong vigil is being maintained by personnel of Sekmai police station and women police.

There is no report of any injury.

At senapati district, where the bandh is being enforced to demand removal of the Deputy Commissioner, the district police have reportedly taken appropriate steps to apprehend those involved in the attack of the passenger bus which was coming from Dimapur side.

While affirming that tight security measures have been taken up to thwart any attempt of disrupting normal traffic flow throughout the district, the SP (Senapati) Nishit Kumar Ujjwal conveyed that apart from escorting passenger and goods carriers past vulnerable pockets along the National Highway 39 stretch all the police stations in the district have been put on high alert.

"A manhunt has been launched to nab those who attacked the passenger bus," added the SP.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Kesharwani rejected the NPO's allegation of misappropriating funds meant for infrastructure development in the hill areas among other accusations.

"I'm doing my duty under the prescribed guidelines and all developmental funds are being utilised smoothly without any hurdles," the lady officer said while welcoming all concerned to visit villages and inquire the 'realities we are doing'.

My office is also open for any inquiry, she added.

The Sangai Express

Agitations, bridge collapse corner Manipur

IMPHAL, Dec 19 : Inspite of the agitating Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) announcing exemption of certain type of vehicles from the purview of its ongoing agitation, bandhs along the National Highways, impending threat of enforcing similar form of protest and collapse of a bridge on the Imphal-Jiribam route are likely to cause great hardships to the people.

The indefinite bandh called along the Imphal-Dimapur Road since 6 pm today by the JAC against killing of Maharabam Rajen seriously affected movement of goods carriers along this route today.

Since early morning, a large number of womenfolk from Sekmai area came out to enforce the bandh along with burning tyres, scattering broken glass shards and placing boulders to prevent movement of vehicular traffic on the road.

Bandh supports also targeted vehicles coming along in defiance of the bandh call forcing the police to lathi-charge and fire tear gas canisters. Afterwards, the vehicles were escorted by the police.

JAC president Angom Shanti Devi has stated that the bandh would continue until an agreement has been brought about with the Government. Vehicles coming in defiance of the bandh should themselves bear the respo-nsibility for the destruction caused, she added.

On the other hand, inspite of presence of police escort, suspected supporters of the NPO-sponsored bandh pelted stones on an Imphal bound passenger bus (MN-01/1653) of the Royal Rajdhani Travels coming from Dimapur at around 8 am today.

Though none of the passenger suffered any injuries in the attack, the wind shields of the bus have been destroyed. NPO has called the indefinite bandh along the National Highway 39 demanding transfer of Deputy Commission of Senapati district Nidhi Kesherwani (IAS).

The NPO said it would exempt students studying outside the State and coming for holidays and Christmas festival, sportspersons particularly for the preparation of National Games and various State level functions outside the State and inter-State bus services from the purview of the agitation with effect from midnight of December 18.

NPO said that cutting off of Senapati district from the rest of the State is a continual process of the reaffir- mation taken with the tribal presidents on June 24.

Saying that the ongoing agitation is a follow-up action and strategy that has been planned by the executive committee of NPO, the organisation said it would continue with the agitation till the DC moves herself out voluntarily or is transferred by the State Government.

Meanwhile, All Manipur Road Transport Drivers’ and Motor Workers Union urged the State Government to bring a solution with the bandh supporters to ensure smooth celebration of the ensuing Christmas festival and Drivers’ Day which is to be observed on January 14, next.

The union also informed that traffic flow along NH-53 is on complete halt as a cement loaded truck is stuck on a bailey bridge at Shanti Khunou. The union urged the concerned authority to take up actions immediately to restore the normal movements of vehicles. The weight of the loaded vehicles had also resulted in collapse/damage to a portion of the bridge.

on the otherhand, peeved with the failure of the State Government to give their due positions even after completion of training, the Joint Action Committee of Trained Special Police Officers have decided to launch strike from December 20.

A press release issued by the JAC asserted that the State Government has let down and demoralised SPOs by not assigning their specific positions even after six months of training although they were reportedly told earlier that their training course was for only one month.

Informing that they have been training in using different weapons like 303 rifles, Canada rifles, SLR, Sten carbine, AK 47, AK 56 , INSAS, LMG, two inch mortar, 9 mm pistol, bayonet fighting, grenade etc, the JAC decried the act of confining them to the training centre on the pretext of incomplete barracks.

In case the Government remains indifferent to their woes even after the strike, the SPOs may find a way out on their own, the JAC cautioned.