Imphal, Apr 8 : More transporters in Manipur joined the chorus against extortion by militant outfits with bus operators deciding to suspend operations along the Imphal-Churachandpur Road from tomorrow.
“Passenger buses affiliated to the Tiddim Road Motor Owners Cooperative Society will stop plying buses from tomorrow as militants’ demand for money has ‘become unbearable,’” a spokesman for the society said today.
The transporters’ decision came after vehicles stopped plying between Imphal and the border town of Moreh in neighbouring Chandel district yesterday.
Tata Sumo and jeep owners, who were on strike from April 4, were joined by bus and van operators.
This led to the closure of border trade through Moreh since yesterday.
The transporters said more than 20 militant groups were demanding money from them.
The militants allegedly threatened the transporters that they would burn the vehicles if their demands were not met.
A spokesman for the joint action committee of transport operators plying on the Imphal-Moreh Road said they would not resume services until the militant groups withdrew their demands.
The Imphal-Churachandpur Road is part of National Highway 150 linking Imphal with Aizawl via Churachandpur.
Though this national highway does not serve as a supply route for the state, it is a major link for people living in Manipur with Aizawl.
The Tiddim Road transporters’ body also appealed to all the other transport providers along the road to suspend operation to show solidarity with the society.
The transporters said though they were paying the militants regularly, the situation has spun out of control.
The transporters said the Okram Ibobi Singh government had not been able to check extortion by militant groups along the national and state highways.
The government, however, blamed the transporters.
“We are protecting the highways with central and state forces. But the transporters are paying the militants on the sly,” said a senior official in the home department.
He said two transporters were arrested recently on charges of paying militants. The transporters countered that the situation in Manipur had reached such a stage that they did not feel safe even staying at home.
“Can the government prevent militants from targeting us?” a transporter asked.
In 2004, the joint action committee of transporters in Manipur braved a government threat of punitive action in form of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma) and decided to go ahead with their indefinite strike. The truckers were protesting against the killing of one of their colleagues by criminals on the night of June 27.
Telegraph India
