Ugly turn to blockade continues, six drivers hurt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2011: At least six truck drivers sustained injuries, some of them seriously, missiles and stones rained on their vehicles, even as supporters of the indefinite bandh being called by Sadar Hills District-hood Demand Committee set on fire a truck at Namthanjang village along National Highway 53 in the afternoon today.

On the other hand, as many as six vehicles including trucks have been set on fire by bandh supporters in between Kanglatongbi and Kangpokpi along National Highway 39 .

Around 170 trucks were escorted from Imphal for lifting rice, sugar and other essential commodities from Jiribam today afternoon.

However, they were attacked by bandh supporters right from New Keithelmanbi to Kotlen.

While trying to negotiate through the rain of stones and missiles, one of the trucks met with an accident at New Keithelmanbi area near the BRTF camp.

At Namthanjang village, the trucks had to halt for almost 30 minutes following similar attacks.

Some of the drivers and the handymen were getting down to retaliate the attack, but they had to make a hasty retreat on seeing that the attackers were armed with axes and iron rods.

Not long after that, bandh supporters poured petrol and set one of the trucks on fire.

When a team of police commandos rushed in, the bandh supporters had fled.

Charred remains of the burnt vehicles dotting the highways

The registration no.of the ill-fated truck is said to be MN03P-0155 .

When the stone pelting bandh supporters continued with their attack at Bijang as well, one of the truck driver was hit on his head.

At first, the injured truck driver identified as Md Rahman was admitted to RIMS for treatment.

However, as his condition was serious, he has been referred to Shija Hospital.

Md Rahman was brought to RIMS by CRPF personnel.

Besides, Rahman, six other truck drivers also reportedly sustained injuries in the stone attacks of the bandh supporters.

Out of the six, five of them have been hospitalised at RIMS.

Launching a crackdown on the bandh supporters, the CRPF conducted a search operation in Bijang village.

Fearing the reprisal, the villagers reportedly fled from their houses.

Of the 170 trucks which have been escorted to Jiribam, only around 70 trucks have managed to move ahead while the remaining have returned to Imphal from New Keithelmanbi.

Since enforcement of the indefinite bandh last midnight, bandh supporters have also set on fire four vehicles in between Kanglatongbi and Kangpokpi along National Highway 39 .

At Kangpokpi where the bandh is reported to be total, the bandh supporters set on fire two Imphal bound goods laden trucks.

At around 4 am, the bandh supporters intercepted and set on fire one Hyundai I-20 Car (AS-02G/4470) which was coming towards Imphal.

The car was driven by one H Ranjit, who is a commandant in the CRPF when the incident occurred.

He was coming from Assam on leave.

In the afternoon, the bandh supporters set on fire an Imphal bound goods laden Tata truck bearing registration no AS-03AC/1355 near the foot of the bridge located just in front of the office of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi.

At around the same time, bandh supporters intercepted a motorcycle Bajaj Pulser and set it on fire at Leicop along NH-39 .

Another goods laden truck (NL-08A/2444), which was coming towards Imphal among the Army convoy, was also met the same fate at Kangpokpi Bazar at around 3 pm today.

At Kangpokpi, the bandh supporters blocked the entire road and even conducted search of the Army convoy.

But the security personnel including police who were deployed along the National Highway could do nothing to stop the bandh supporters from their destructive activities.