Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 09 2008:
With all the fuel outlets remaining shut down following the sit-in-protest demonstration by the personnel and owners in denunciation of frequent attacks by unidentified gunmen at the oil pumps, petrol and diesel became the most dearest items in the State today.
On the other hand, subsequent to the imposition of 'tax' by an armed UG group from all the godowns of cooking gas cylinders in the State, all the LPG gas cylinder carriers bullet vehicles have stopped service indefinitely with effect from today.
In response to the call of All Manipur Petroleum Dealers Association, all the oil pumps remained shut for the day and the staff and the owners staged a sit-in-protest demonstration jointly at Keishampat Junction here.
Placards inscribed with slogans like 'Stop imposition of hefty monetary demand', 'Don't target petrol pumps, they are not battlefield', 'We want peace', etc, were seen being put up at the protest site.
Participating in the protest, Yengkhom Joykumar of NRL Station, Thoubal said the proprietors of the oil pumps should not be looked upon as some wealthy businessmen as the income generated is not even 2 percent.
While appealing against opening fire, hurling bombs or setting aflame at oil pumps to all concerned, he also urged the NGOs and other civil organisations to accept and extend assistance when they come seeking for assistance instead of insisting on their monetary and material demands.
Setting December 31 as the deadline for all the UG groups to withdraw their monetary demands from oil pumps and urging the Government to provide adequate security, the protestors have also announced their decision of going on an indefinite cease work strike with effect from January 1, 2009 if all concerned fail to take up necessary measures in this regard.
On the other hand, after an emergency meeting of the owners, it is been decided that all the bullet vehicles used for transporting LPG gas cylinders would stop service indefinitely.
According to information received by the press, the decision has been taken following imposition of 'tax' by an armed UG group from all the LPG Gas godowns in the State.
Sources said that around 16 bullet vehicles which have gone from here to lift LPG gas cylinders were intercepted by armed cadres of a UG group near Maram in Senapati district yesterday and demanded that all the LPG cylinder godowns in the State should pay taxes.
Consequently, the bullet vehicles returned to Imphal.
Along with deciding not to ply the vehicles until the Government of Manipur brings about an amicable solution with the UG group concerned, today's meeting also demanded to submit a memorandum in this connection to the Chief Minister tomorrow.