Imphal, February 16: In what could be law enforcing agencies violating laws of the country, Assam Rifles troops have been allegedly collecting illegal entry fees from junk and scrap metal transporters along Imphal-Silchar route.

For allegedly refusing to increase the amount paid by each truck, 12 trucks are being stranded at Keithelmanbi since February 14 .

The AR troops reportedly claimed that the Imphal-Silchar highway belongs to them and asked the drivers to transport their goods along Imphal-Dimapur road (NH 39) .

Meanwhile the OC of Patsoi police station went to Keithelmanbi this morning where the trucks are being stranded and collected a detailed report on the allegation.

Speaking to reporters today, one of the drivers of the stranded truck carrying scrap metal disclosed that 32 Assam Rifles posted at Keithelmanbi charged Rs 500 each from every truck as entry fee.

But this time, the AR troops have been blocking the trucks for the last three days asking the drivers to call there owners of their goods.

During a joint meeting of the scrap metal dealers, truck drivers and the CO of the 32 AR yesterday, the AR officers reportedly asked Rs 2000 for every truck.

But this morning the AR officers told the drivers not to park their vehicles in front of their camp but to take the alternative route along Imphal-Dimapur road.

Ironically, the junk and scrap metals are meant for delivery at Silchar, conveyed the driver.

Moreover, the AR personnel confiscated keys of the vehicles parked there yesterday before the keys were returned to the drivers only this morning.

The AR personnel also claimed that the highway (NH 53) belonged to them.

The extra-judicial activity of 32 AR is not confined to scrap metal carriers only.

They also made cement transporters along the highway buy a disc each for every truck, disclosed the driver.

Even as the drivers offered to unload their goods if the AR personnel have any suspicion, the troops declined the offer, he informed.

Last month too, driver of a truck bearing registration number MN01-5252 was severely beaten up by Assam Rifles personnel of the post over a matter related to their monetary demand.

However, the CO of 32 AR on being contacted asserted that five trucks were halted at the unit's check post on February 14 for random checking as the security personnel were suspicious of the trucks carrying illegal objects/substances.

However, the random checking could not proceed as there were no owners.

Subsequently the drivers were told to call the owners of the scrap metals.

As no owners arrived on the day, the trucks were stranded there for the night.

One Deben from Lamphel came to the AR camp yesterday with five more trucks carrying scrap and junk metals.

While refusing to unload the scrap metals for checking, Deben reportedly requested to let the trucks off.

This led to further detention of the trucks till today.

As the ten trucks standing on the highway near the AR post started causing traffic problems along the road, the drivers were told to drive back their vehicles.

As such, all the trucks left the check post at about 8 this morning.

As regards the allegation of collecting money from the trucks, the CO flatly denied it saying that it was a malicious, fabricated propaganda floated under pressure from UG elements.

The CO also reminded that 3600 kgs of ganja were seized from a truck at the check post in March 2006.Although the stranded drivers were seen cooking their meal on the road side, there was no objection to other vehicles travelling along the highway.

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