Union rejects driver thrashing slur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 13 2021:
Strongly refuting allegation of Manipur Driver Association (MDA) that Noney police badly'thrashed a truck driver on November 11 evening, Hill Area Drivers' Union has said that MDA cannot call bandh along the two key national highways of the state.
In a statement, Hill Area Drivers' Union, Khongsang president Angam Panmei said that a truck bearing registration No PB 23 M-9455 driven by Harban Singh coming from Silchar towards Imphal reached Khongsang on November 11 morning.
The drunk driver and helpers entered a hotel and started abusing women and children using their language.
However, some drivers who were already eating in the hotel understood the language and told them not to do so and in the ensuing melee driver Guldip Singh fell to the ground and broke his toe.
On getting report that Punjabi drivers and some local drivers had a fight, a team of Hill Area Drivers' Union rushed to the spot immediately and diffused the situation.
Upon finding that Guldip Singh was at fault, an understanding was reached during a joint meeting with hotel women and Guldip Singh tendered apology not to repeat any provocative action.
Later, Guldip Singh was given first aid at Khongsang and left for Imphal at 2pm the same day.
It was very unfortunate that MDA spread wrong news that Noney police thrashed non-local drivers without knowing the facts, Angam Panmei said, adding that consequences would not be good if MDA tries to protect the guilty driver.
Asking as to why MDA decided to impose bandh along national highways without investigating the incident and finding truth, Angam Panmei said that MDA must find out truth about the incident.