Transporters draw attention on highway crimes
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 27 2013 :
Taking serious note over the recent incidents of murder of driver, robbery, burning of vehicles along National Highways, All Manipur Iron Steels Transport Truckers Association has drawn the attention of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam for taking up necessary measures to ensure protection of drivers and safe passage of the trucks.
The murder of truck driver Babu of Samurou and burning down of two goods laden trucks by cadres of some armed groups on April 17 along NH 37 at Charoi Pandongba were not the first incident of atrocities committed on drivers.
Many such incidents of crimes have occurred in the past.
But the weirdest part is that none of the culprits have been ever pulled up, Ngangbam Loken Singh, Chairman of the Association lamented.
On the other hand, except for assurances, the state government had never done anything to ensure safety of the drivers along the National highways, he said, while pressing for increasing the number of security personnel provided for escort along the national highways.
Reminding the Deputy Chief Minister about his promise to conduct mass combing operation to nail down the killer of Babu, the Chairman insisted Gaikhangam, who is also the in-charge of Home to prove the existence of government though action.
The association also appealed to responsible organisation to come out publicly with a clarification on why Babu was killed and the trucks were torched or else they would be branded as looters and murderers.