Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 28, 2010::
Owners and drivers of Tata Magic passenger service operators staged a sit-in protest at Lamlai Bazar in Imphal east district today registering strong protest against unbearable extortion demands served on them by the underground groups.
The protest was staged under the banner of the Imphal-Lamlai Taxi Transports Co-operative Society Limited.
Drivers and owners of Tata Magic plying on the Imphal-Lamlai section of the Imphal-Ukhrul road took part in the protest suspending services of the day on the route.
They are staging the protest following received of heavy unbearable monetary demands from underground groups suspending works for the day, said secretary, I Robindra of the society talking to reporters.
Around 14 to 15 underground groups including hill based groups are demanding at the rate of Rs 5000 per year from the society with owners and drivers of passenger service Tata Magic vehicles on this route, he revealed.
On the other hand, as majority of the vehicles were bought on loan, they have to repay the amount at the rate of Rs 8,200 per year for three years.
At the same they have to spent extra expenditure for repairing of the vehicles at the time of mechanical break down, he went on to say.
Driver and owners were caught in the midst of stones in such situation; Robindra said appealing the underground groups to return their demands back considering the suffering facing by them in earning livelihood.
If they (undergrounds) continued to press with their demand, they have no other option but to leave the service.
The sit-in protest started from around 10 am went on till 2 pm.