Imphal, September 11: Responding to complaints of truckers that Central security force personnel deployed along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway 53 had detained their vehicles and thrashed them, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Y Erabot has instructed the DGP to act immediately.

With the All manipur Road Transport Drivers and motor Workers� Union submitting a memorandum to the Minister this afternoon alleging excesses by the security personnel, Erabot asked the State police chief to escort the detained truckers and probe the thrashing allegation.

According to information, Indian army personnel deployed on the highway prohibited plying of trucks beyond Tamenglong district�s Keiphundai and Keimai areas on ground that the loads had exceeded the specified 10 tonne limit, inclusive of the vehicle weight.

Apart from barring nearly 35 loaded trucks to proceed further towards Imphal, the drivers were allegedly thrashed and punished in the same way recalcitrant soldiers are put through, according to the Union�s representation.

The truckers opted the second life-line of the State due to continued imposition of economic blockade on the Imphal-Dimapur NH-39 stretch.

It may be noted that with over 150 loaded truckers, including two LPG carriers stranded at near mao Gate owing to the indefinite economic and landslides at some points on the hill section of NH-39 coupled with flooding in the valley areas prices of certain essential goods have been hiked.

Mention may also be made that scarcity of essential food items had been severely aggravated after six days restriction on plying of heavy vehicles had been enforced along the Imphal-Moreh route after landslides damaged the route at many points.

Meanwhile, reliable sources informed that the FCS Minister is yet to be informed regarding the quantity of food material (APL) rice transported from Shed No-II of Sangaiprou godown yesterday.

With law and order being the apparent reason there was no order from the Government for store keepers to stay overnight at the godown, said the sources referring to last night�s incident wherein the godown seal was broken to provide rice to flood affected people.

Expressing surprise that the lock breaking episode occurred at such a time when the godown premises were neither illuminated nor was there any labour to load/transport the food item, they further noted that the FCS Minister was not intimated on decision/steps initiated in the meeting of the State level flood relief committee.

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