Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 06:
Around 300 passengers stranded at Jiribam today staged a dharna in front of the MSRTC office at Jiribam demanding security escorts to take them home and also adequate security on NH-53 to allow vehicular movements on the national highway.
The agitation began from 1.30 pm and went on till 5 pm.
Currently, the stranded passengers are housed at a relief camp set up by AMSU, Jiri branch at PWD IB Jiri.
The All Jiribam United Clubs Association donated one quintal of rice to the relief camp while the Apunba Jiribam Meira Paibi provided vegetables amounting to Rs.1500.Villagers of Lungreijan Kabui Khul provided firewood and the Manipur Peace and Integrity, Imphal East donated a sum of Rs.3000 for the stranded passengers.
The OC of Jiri police, SI Md Riyaz donated Rs.300.The information cell opened by AMSU at Jiri to facilitate communications between the passengers and their family members has been changed to (038576) 21502.Some passengers are still stranded at Cachar and Silchar and they are likely to arrive at Jiribam soon.
Meanwhile five occupants of a car (Maruti Zen) who were proceeding towards Imphal from Jiribam yesterday were stopped by suspected militants at Nungba and assaulted.
The suspected militants ordered them to go back to Jiribam and even fired around five rounds into the air.
A number of iron plates on a bailey bridge near Maku, located about30 kms from Jiribam police station were found missing today.
An auto rickshaw driver said most of the iron plates were found beneath the river bank.