Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 23 2010:
Drivers of taxi Tata Magic service on the Tidim road from Imphal to Bishnupur and Moirang today staged a sit-in protest demanding withdrawal of extortion served by a particular underground group.
The sit-in protest was staged under the banner of the Tidim Road Light Motor Vehicles Co-operative Society Limited at Bishnupur Kha Junior High School.
Activists said to belong to KCP (MC) Khangenba group are demanding Rs 50,000 each from the associations of drivers operating along the Tata Magic taxi service operating between Imphal-Bishnupur and Moirang-Imphal.
They served the monetary demand served by the underground group on July 20 last, secretary of the society, Chaoba said to reporters at the protest site.
They have been pressing hard to stop service if the demand served by them is not paid giving a great impact to the drivers who are earning livelihood with the meager income they earn from the taxi service, he lamented.
They bought the vehicles on loan and recovering the loan amount at the rate ranging from Rs 5000 to Rs 9000 per month.
If failed to recover the monthly installment for three consecutive months, the vehicle will be seized by the loan providers, he added.
Considering the grievances facing by the Tata Magic tax operators, they wanted the group to withdraw the monetary demand, said the secretary adding that otherwise they have no other means to suspend the service.