USRA collects parking tax, beats up auto driver
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 27 2011:
Cadres of the United Socialists Revolutionary Army (USRA) who is under the Suspension of Operation SoO with the state government are forcibly collecting illegal taxes from auto rikshaws and Tata Magic vehicles plying from Torbung to Moirang Keithel.
They have threatened those who do not pay their exacted demands.
In an incident in demand of their illegal taxes, some armed cadres of the UG group today fired indiscriminately at Torbung bazar at around 10.30 am.
They also smashed two auto rikshaws and beat up the drivers.
They also challenged all to come out and face them if there was any brave Meetei son in the area.
Relating the incident to reporters at a secluded place in Imphal, H Kumar, president Torbung Area Development Committee said that the passenger service vehicles plying in the route was initiated on June 18, 2009 after repeated requests from the local clubs, Meira Paibis and Pradhans of the area in order to help the people of the area.
A handicapped person was given the job of collecting parking fees from the vehicles in order to give him a livelihood.
Meanwhile, some cadres of USRA came on June 24 and told the handicapped person and the drivers that they would be collecting the parking fees.
They threatened to smash and torch vehicles of those who refuse to follow the diktat of the party from June 27 onwards.
A public meeting was held at Torbung yesterday to discuss the matter and an appeal was made to the Chief Minister and all other concerned authority to stop the illegal acts of the USRA who is under the SoO with the state government.