VDF plays spoilsport, tankers defer trip
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2013: Even as oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers were mobilised by the Government and IOC with much efforts for shipping in fuel via Pudunamei-Kedima bypass, the whole effort went waste as oil tankers refused to move after a VDF personnel assaulted and opened fire at some drivers.

The incident happened at a toll tax collection point near the CRPF camp of Mantripukhri at around 11.30 pm yesterday.

In line with the joint efforts of the Government and the IOC to address the pressing problem of fuel and LPG shortage in the State, oil tankers and LPG bullets were lined up starting from the Mantripukhri CRPF gate last night in order to ship in the petroleum products.

At the request of CRPF personnel who were guarding the Manipur High Court complex not to park oil tankers or LPG bullet tankers just adjacent to the complex, a number of oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers moved to the eastern side of the road and lined up again starting from the toll tax collection point up to the Forest office.

The Pudunamei gate

Another oil tanker unable to find better parking space came up and joined the queue near the toll tax collection point.

On seeing the tanker moving up to the toll tax collection point, five VDF personnel who were on duty there asked the driver as to why he was bringing the tanker up to the toll tax point.

At this, the driver replied that he could not find any alternative parking space .

Then the VDF personnel told that the driver that he could not park his tanker there.

They also reportedly hurled a volley of abuses at the driver.

Soon the VDF personnel came to blows with the driver and his assistant.

In the next moment, other drivers present at the scene joined the fight on the side of their colleague.

At the next moment, one VDF personnel who was in civil dress snatched a gun from another VDF personnel and fired three/four rounds of shot on the ground.

The firing caused injuries to one VDF personnel identified as Abash Khan and he is undergoing treatment at Raj Polyclinic.

Some other drivers who tried to intervene and stop the brawl were assaulted by the VDF personnel.

Denouncing the assault, the drivers not only cancelled their forward trip for shipping in fuel and LPG but also launched hands-off-steering agitation this morning.

Later, the drivers held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam at the latter's office chamber.

CAF&PD Minister M Okendro, IOC officials, Imphal East SP, SDPO and transporters were present at the meeting.

The meeting agreed to dismiss the VDF personnel who opened fire and also to remove the toll tax gate from the area where oil tankers and other trucks used to line up waiting for security escorts.

Following the agreement, the drivers suspended their agitation after which the IOC depot too resumed its operation.

Although tankers and LPG bullets could not go shipping in fuel oils and LPG last night, they would be moving with CRPF escorts either tonight or in the wee hours of August 2, informed a source.