Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 15 2010:
The hijacking of 'auto disable syringes' for Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Programme was the handiwork of the NCSN (IM) outfit which is under a ceasefire trust with the government of India.
Mention may be made that due to the missing of the truck carrying the AD syringes the mass vaccination programme due to be launched by the state family welfare department from October 12 was postponed indefinitely.
The syringes had been dispatched to Manipur through a Kolkata based farm.
The farm has intimated the state government about the dispatching of the syringes.
On investigation, it was found that the truck was detained by the NSCN(IM) on the way to Imphal before entering Manipur territory on NH-39, a highly placed source said.
The hijacking is reported to be linked with extortion demands but it could not be confirmed whether the demand is made to the company transporting the item or to the Manipur government.
The state government has not apprised the centre of the hijacking since transportation of the item is not the responsibility of the state government.
Apart from this, the transporter is yet to furnish documents relating to the dispatchment of the AB syringes even though they had informally informed the state authority about the dispatchment of the said item.
Another highly reliable source said that the truck with syringes worth around Rs four lakh has not crossed into Manipur territory.
There were no entry records of a truck carrying such items in the record books of any of the police check posts on the stretch of the highway in the Manipur section.
However, the truth of the NSCN (IM) hijacking the truck has reportedly reached the ears of the centre and the centre is understood to be negotiating with the outfit to release the truck and ensure its reaching Imphal at the earliest, the source disclosed.