Bus burning : Lamka taxi operators clarify
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, March 30 2012: All Lamka Taxi Owners' Society has clarified that it has nothing to do with the recent incident of a stationary bus catching fire in which two handymen who were sleeping inside were killed.

A passenger bus operating on the ImphalChurachandpur route, which was parked at Keishampat Leimajam area caught fire on March 26 mid-night claiming the lives of the two handymen.

Speaking to newspersons at Manipur Press Club today, society chairman Ramku Koireng said passenger service operators (bus) were against the idea of Tata Winger taxis of the Society plying on Tiddim Line/Road consequently resulting in a dispute between the two transport operators over service on the same route.

Claiming that besides cases of assaulting Tata Winger operators and confiscating documents in the aftermath of the disagreement, taxi operators were asked to cease service failing and warned that in case of any untoward incident the taxi operators would be held responsible, he said.

Ramku further claimed that on March 22 some occupants of two Bolero jeeps halted Tata Winger driver L Naobi while in service and asked the passengers to descend from the taxi and instead travel on the bus.

Identifying registration number of one of the Boleros as red-coloured AS011-3032, the chairman alleged that Rs 10,000 and RC book of the Bolero were snatched by the unknown persons, who later summoned taxi owners of Churachandpur and instructed that the taxi service should cease with immediate effect.

Disclosing that there had also been an incident when Tata Winger operators moved to Churachandpur town from Imphal side and had a heated argument with the bus owners, he said the seized vehicle documents were handed to their respective owners on March 23 .

Amid the transport Department convening a joint meeting on March 27 to iron out differences between the two service operators the Keishampat incident occurred in which the passenger bus (MN01-1174) was reported torched, the Society chairman recounted while regretted that some individuals suspected involvement of taxi owners/operators in the act of arson.

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