Attack stalls Imphal-Moreh service

IMPHAL: Irate transporters, operating between Imphal and the border town of Moreh, stopped service from Saturday in protest against an attack on their vehicles on Friday night with stones and clubs, which left a driver critically injured and damaged around 50 loaded taxis in the Naga-dominated Thamnapokpi area along the National Highway in Chandel district.

The ill-fated vehicles, some of which were loaded with essential commodities of Myanmarese and Chinese origin, were coming from the border town towards Imphal when a large number of economic blockade supporters suddenly started raining stones and attacked the vehicles with clubs at about 8 pm.

Denouncing the state government's alleged attempt to bifurcate 'Naga areas' in Manipur to create new districts, the United Naga Council (UNC) has been imposing an indefinite economic blockade on National Highways 39, 53 and 150, since August 21.

A driver, O Nanao (26), was critically injured after his vehicle fell into a deep gorge in the attack. He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Imphal.

"Until the government provides full proof security to the vehicles along the route, in Thamnapokpi area in particular, and bears all expenses being incurred by the injured driver and compensates for the damaged vehicles, we will not ply along the route," said a key leader of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Imphal-Moreh transporters. The JAC has decided to stop operating the service with immediate effect after an emergency meeting, he said.

The leader added that a memorandum highlighting the JAC's demands would be submitted to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh very soon.

Around 200 vehicles, including buses, vans and jeeps, are operating under the JAC.

UNC's stir came after the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) intensified its decades old demand for crating Sadar Hills district. On September 5, suspected UNC-sponsored stir supporters had damaged five jeeps at Thamnapokpi.

Meanwhile, the economic blockade on the highway has triggered a sudden fuel crisis at the state capital as all fuel outlets remained closed.

People are buying petrol at a steep rate of Rs 100 a litre from the grey market even as a delegation of Kuki leaders, including legislators, are currently camping in New Delhi to press for their demand to upgrade Sadar Hills in Senapati to a full-fledged district.

The ongoing economic blockade on the two key supply routes from August 31, coupled with an indefinite general strike in Kuki-dominated Sadar Hills, has already triggered a mild inflation in the state. The price of an LPG cylinder in the grey market is Rs 800 and the prices of onions, potatoes and some other vegetables have also doubled.