Truck drivers demand SF act against UG extortions
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 10 2011:
Truck drivers staged an indefinite protest at Khuman Lampak alleging that security escorts could not prevent UG groups from collecting "taxes" from them while transporting goods from FCI godowns in Dimapur to Imphal.
The truckers charged that they were regularly beaten up in Dimapur and Mao for not paying "taxes".
According to the truckers, earlier 50 to 60 trucks were escorted a day on this route.
However, the number of trucks sharply increased to around 200 in the last 10 days after the state transport department requisitioned trucks for transporting FCI items.
This huge number of trucks were escorted by only three convoys of CRPF in the Nagaland section of the highway.
Meanwhile, activists of NSCN(IM), NSCN (K), Naga Unification are busy openly collecting "taxes" inside the Dimapur FCI godowns.
On non payment the truckers were assaulted in front of the security forces.
The security forces advised them to negotiate with the UGs.
Taking advantage of the inadequate number of security convoys the NSCN (IM) extorts ' 7,000 per truck as "annual vehicle tax" .
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As if this was not enough the Nagaland police too extorts ' 300 per truck at every check post on the highway, they added.
They have also alleged that within the Manipur section also UGs extort money right before the eyes of the state security forces, police and IRB, who are responsible for escorting them within the Manipur section of the highway.
The truckers are demanding an assurance from the government to prevent UGs from extorting money from them.
Unless the government prevents the UGs from extorting money, they will not resume their duty and will continue to suspend transportation of FCI goods, the truckers said.
Around 150 truckers are taking part in the protest at Khuman Lampak.
They have decided to hold a meeting tomorrow at 8 am at the protest site.
The meeting will draft a memorandum of demands for submission to the Chief Minister, a spokesperson of the protesting truckers said.