Drivers refute police report
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 27 2011:
Refuting the claim of SP Chandel district, OC of Tengnoupal Police and CNPO over the September 23 incident at Thamnapokpi along Imphal-Moreh Road, All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union has denounced it as discriminatory attitude towards the drivers.
On September 23, an Imphal-bound loaded Tata Sumo coming from Moreh met with an accident at Thamnapokpi following an alleged stone attack by blockade supporters.
However, SP Chandel district, OC of Tengnoupal Police and CNPO had claimed that the Tata Sumo in question met the accident all by itself and not from the attack of blockade supporters.
Addressing a press conference in this regard here today, joint secretary of All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union M Anil Meitei informed that many Imphal-bound loaded vehicles coming from Moreh remained stranded at Bonyang for many days on account of the UNC sponsored counter blockade.
All these stranded vehicles started leaving for Imphal at around 6-7 pm on September 23 along with a security escort team led by OC of Tengnoupal police station A Tomba.
Along the way, blockade supporters pelted stones at the vehicles smashing the windshield of many vehicles.
On account of the attack launched by the blockade supporters, the Tata Sumo lost control and met with an accident.
So, the claim of Chandel SP K Radhashyam, Tengnoupal OC A Tomba and CNPO Tribunal M Tolkham through media that blockade supporters have not launched any attack and the Tata Sumo met the accident all by itself is not acceptable and it is discrimination against the drivers.
The false charges levelled against the Union of misleading the people and trying to drive a wedge among the various communities is also condemnable, Anil added.
He recalled that on the night of September 21 while the loaded vehicles were remaining stranded at Bonyang, some supporters of UNC have come in two wheelers and took away the keys and mobile phones from most of the drivers.
The following day, OC Tomba turned up to collect the names of the drivers from whom the keys and mobile phones have been taken.
But contrary to the assurance of handing back the keys and mobiles, the blockade supporters took Rs 800 to Rs 1000 from each of the vehicles in a manner that smacks of connivance with OC Tengnoupal.