Imphal, October 22: With the release of the official and driver belonging to the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers� Union yesterday evening the Union has called off their agitation but another body has placed certain condition to resume service.

Along with strong security arrangement the drivers� body had agreed to take the wheel with effect from tomorrow but another late evening development has nullified decision to resume service as All Manipur Petroleum Transporters� Association has placed certain conditions to �authorities concerned�.

Talking to reporters at Hotel Nirmala the Association members contended that they would wait till the Manipur Government assure/provide adequate security in transporting fuels from oil depots of Assam.

As per a late evening order of the Government canceling provision of security as agreed earlier in the day had been reduced to naught, condemned the Association members on the Government backtracking.

Until and unless an understanding is reached between the Association and the Government the agitation will continue, the Association president claimed adding they would also oppose any move to requisition of the vehicles.

The vice president of All Manipur petroleum Tankers Drivers� Union Brajamani and driver Ghanashyam were released around 6 pm yesterday by the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA).

They were in the outfit�s custody since September 4 after being picked up from North AOC area in the same evening.

Another captive Shahaudin (driver) was also abducted by the KRA activists from Assam�s Khatkati area but had been released earlier this month.

Following the arrest of the three the fuel transporters ceased service to protest the abduction resulting in acute shortage of petrol and diesel as well as kerosene.

The KRA information and publicity secretary DT Haokip is said to have personally handed over Brajamani and Ghanashyam to representatives of the drivers� union and Petroleum Tankers Owner Association.

Talking to some reporters the KRA secretary con- tended that the drivers were not abducted for ransom but in connection with an investigation to check adulteration of the essential items specially frequent practice of mixing kerosene to petrol.

Explaining further on the abduction drama, DT Haokip stated that the KRA was constrained to resort to abduction as invitation to petrol tanker owners and the drivers� body to talk over the fuel adulteration matter were not accepted by the bodies.

Even as Sahauddin�s abduction failed to evoke any positive response the KRA ultimately decided to pick up Brajamani and Ghanashyam to pressurize the bodies, he added.

Maintaining that the drivers and tanker owners had assured to prevent fuel adulteration at any cost, Haokip also said consideration the hardship being faced by the common people and faith upon the bodies of strictly complying to their assurances the remaining driver were released.

He, however, did not rule out similar action against the driver or owners in case such malpractices remain unchecked.

Regretting that KRA was compelled to resort to such drastic action, Haokip also sought cooperation from all concerned in the outfit�s endeavor to weed out ills afflicting the society.

Representatives of Ching-Tam Apunba Lup are also informed to have attended at the meeting held in connection with pursuance to secure release of the abducted persons as well as to discard fuel adulteration practices.

Narrating their tale during the captive period, Brajamani and Ghanashyam conveyed of about 30 well armed KRA cadres maintaining strict vigil in a hideout located in a deep ravine.

They also informed of being very well treated by their captors.

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