Imphal, October 26 2008: THE THREATENED Indigenous Peoples' Society (TIPS), Manipur has sent a letter to the Union Minister of Surface Transport urging him to provide Highway Protection Force (HPF)/Quick Response Team (QRT) along both National Highway 39 and 53 .

In the letter, General Secretary of TIPS, Tondon Moirang Asemcha informed the Union Minister that a Manipur bus was burnt along with the passengers on the night of October 23 at Loharijan in Assam killing two passengers and injuring several others.

He stated in his letter that it was a barbaric crime against humanity.

No terrorist organisation in the world had ever burnt alive innocent victims.

The TIPS urged the Union Minister of Surface Transport to provide HPF/QRT comprising central paramilitary forces along the NH-39 and NH-53 .