Imphal, August 16: With no breakthrough made in tracing the two drivers who were abducted from Dimapur by unidentified gunmen on August 10 and diesel still not available, all goods trucks and passenger vehicles have suspended services from today.

Passenger, vehicles had earlier suspended services following the acute shortage of diesel in the State.

Till today there is not even the slightest hint on the whereabouts of the two abducted drivers.

The two drivers, Dhamendra and Ibungocha were abducted by gunmen while they were transporting rice from the FCI godown to Imphal on August 10.One of the trucks was torched by the abductors while the other was rescued by police.

Most of the goods on the two trucks were taken away by the gunmen when they were recovered.

The Manipur Drivers' Welfare Association had served an ultimatum that they would resort to a two day chakka bandh from today if the drivers are not traced.

The drivers' body has also threatened to impose an indefinite chakka bandh from August 18 if the drivers are not traced by then.

The All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers' Union had also threatened to stop-plying of all tourist buses from August 17 if the two abducted drivers are not traced.

Other than a few petrol driven vehicles all heavy vehicles including goods trucks and passenger buses have stopped operating in the valley districts of the State.

The Manipur Transport Joint Co-ordinating Committee, Imphal has come out strongly against the apathy of the State Government though it has been five days since passenger vehicles stayed off the road due to the acute shortage of diesel.

In a statement, the transporters said it.

is also equally baffling why the public have remained silent in the face of such a situation.

The transporters further said that Advisor (R) who is in charge of Home and FCS has totally failed in providing adequate security and escort on the highways to make fuel available to the people.

The statement added that the passenger vehicles will continue to stay off the roads until and unless the Government makes diesel available abundantly.

If the Government does not make necessary arrangements and make diesel available then they might resort to a Manipur bandh, said the transporters.

The Committee also asked trucks, Maruti vans and other taxis to stop picking up passengers from the parking lot immediately.

School buses were also asked to stop service.

They also appealed for the safe and early release of the two abducted drivers.

In accordance with the decisions taken by a number of transporters' bodies and drivers' associations, the Manipur Local Truck Owners' Association has suspended service from today.

The All Manipur 407 Mini Tata Owners' cum Drivers' Welfare Association and All Manipur Sand and Stone Supplier Association have also suspended service from today.

A bus which was supposed to transport players outside the State was stopped by the drivers' associations.

Vehicles which flouted the call of chakka bandh were also rounded up.

The transporters and drivers have decided to intensify the stir from tomorrow.

Transportation of goods from the Mantripukhri godown on carts will also be put to a stop from tomorrow, they said.

Following the suspension of services of goods carriers and passenger vehicles, inter connection between Imphal and other districts have come to a stand still.

Goods meant to be transported to Imphal for sale are in danger of rotting away and traders have no option but to travel on petrol run vehicles on much higher fares to transport their products to the capital city.

Movements of people have also been severely curtailed.

Office attendance has also been severely hit as employees from far off places cannot make the trip to their offices.

Many school buses have also suspended service and attendance in many schools have dropped.

Meanwhile a number of organizations have appealed for the safe and early release of the two drivers.

The Indo-Burma Sugnu Road Drivers Association has appealed to the concerned to release the two drivers without any harm and at the earliest possible.

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