Imphal, October 28 2008: Chief Minister O Ibobi has mooted deployment of IRB along NH-39 .

He has also assured to take up the issue of the burning down of a tourist bus which killed two passengers by KLO/KLA cadres at Lahorijan under Karbi Anglong district of Assam on October 23 with the Chief Secretary, the State DGP and Assam Rifles officials tomorrow.

The Chief Minister gave this assurance during a meeting with representatives of the All Manipur Inter State Bus Association this afternoon.

The meeting also studied the various points of the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister by the transporters' association yesterday.

However, despite the Chief Minister's assurance, there has been no change in the stand of the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association regarding the Statewide bandh called tomorrow and the ongoing suspension of inter-State bus service.

Ibobi reportedly told representatives of the transporters' body that they would be intimated for a second meeting soon.

The main demands of the association as listed in the memorandum are institution of judicial enquiry into the incident and provision of ex-gratia/compensation to the families of the deceased and injured victims as well as the bus owner.

Copies of two other memoranda submitted earlier were also submitted to the Chief Minister yesterday as a reminder.

On the other hand, movement of people to and from the State has been severely affected following suspension of inter-State bus service.

The All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association suspended their service since October 25 .

Many State natives including students who have been staying away for the past several months and years outside the State are facing great difficulties in coming home for the Ningol Chakkhouba festival.

With the bus service suspended, they have been compelled to spend greater amount on fare for travelling in Tata Sumo taxis.

One individual who arrived at Imphal from Dimapur in a Sumo taxi this morning said that besides the increased expenditure on travel fare, people heading to Imphal from Guwahati and Dimapur are facing several difficulties due to suspension of bus service.

Many of the State natives staying at far off places outside the State were unaware of the suspension of bus service from Imphal to Guwahati and Shillong.

They came to know about the transporters' stir only after reaching Guwahati.

They were compelled to hire Sumos, vans, Tata DIs and Tata Magic to come to Dimapur at a much higher fare than the bus fare.

Earlier when there was bus service, the fare was Rs 240 per passenger for going to Kohima and Rs 330 per passenger for going to Dimapur.

However the fare has more than doubled as each passenger has to pay Rs 600 and Rs 800 to go to Kohima or Dimapur.

Following suspension of bus service, a ticket counter for Sumo service has been opened at North AOC.

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