Imphal, August 20 2010: Terming it as acts of reprobates, the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has strongly condemned the acts of attacking trucks with stones on NH 39 and setting ablaze two trucks along NH 53 yesterday.

In a statement issued by its publicity secretary NC Modhuchandra, the AMUCO remarked that the Centre's assurance of providing full-proof security escorts to transporters along the highways has turned out to be a farce.

Despite repeated assurances given by the Government of India, there has been no relief from unlawful activities perpetrated on highways.

This was testified by the reported collection of illegal taxes by some groups from the vehicles along NH 39 in presence of CRPF personnel who were either escorting the vehicles or on ROP duty.

The acts of torching vehicles and pelting stones in which three transporters were seriously injured only exposed the mental health of the blockaders, it asserted.

Observing that anti-social and criminal activities like burning vehicles, pushing vehicles down gorges, robbery, thrashing drivers and their helpers and pelting stones at vehicles travelling along Imphal-Jiribam and Imphal-Dimapur highways have been continuing for the last many years, but no concrete measures were taken up either by the Centre or the State Government except hollow words of assurance.

After the 68 days economic blockade, another blockade of 20 days was launched since August 4.Accusing some hill based organisations of conniving with the Government of India to inflict misery upon the people of Manipur by resorting to prolonged blockades time and again, AMUCO stated that the people of Manipur have learnt the real taste of economic blockades.

"This would certainly be a determining factor in deciding the future of the people", it asserted.

It further called upon the people to work out a collective strategy which can free the future generations from the scourge of blockades.