'Can Govt neutralise COTU's blockade?'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 10 2024: Transporters have categorically asked the Government whether it can provide security forces strong enough to neutralise the blockade/dis-ruptions being imposed by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) on the movement of oil tankers on Imphal-Dimapur Highway (NH-2) .

As petrol, diesel and LPG brought on Imphal-Jiribam Highway (NH-37) with CRPF escorts are not enough to meet the consumers' requirements, the Government has asked transporters to bring in petroleum and petroleum products on NH-2 too.

A key functionary of the All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters Association told The Sangai Express that the IGP (Ops) asked the transporters to resume movement of oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers on NH-2 with security escorts.

Subsequently, the IGP (Ops) and the transporters held a meeting last Wednesday.

The meeting deliberated on the prevailing situation along NH-2 and the strict prohibition being imposed against movement of Meitei drivers and vehicles belonging to Meiteis on the highway.

All the people travelling on NH-2 are checked at Gamgiphai and in front of the Army War Cemetery located near Gamgiphai.

If any Meitei is found by those people manning these illegal checkpoints, he is unlikely to come back alive.

If the Government can effectively sanitise the highway, oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers whether they are driven by Meiteis or people of other communities can take the highway, All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters Association's functionary said.

If the Government can provide security forces strong enough to ward off all threats along NH-2, specially in Kangpokpi area, there is no reservation in movement of oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers on the highway.

It has been learnt that 20 companies of CRPF have been deployed in Kangpokpi and they have been stationed at different places.

"We asked the IGP (Ops) to assign the task of guarding oil tankers and LPG bullet tankers to the 20 companies of CRPF but the IGP (Ops) could not give any assurance to translate our demand into action", he said.

Since the violent crisis erupted on May 3, 2023, no Meitei can move on NH-2 beyond Sekmai.

It was CoTU which prohibited all Meiteis from moving through Kuki dominated areas.

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