Tata Wingers dupe passengers with escort charges, bandh likely to go on
Source: The Sangai Express

Senapati, September 08 2014: Human greed prevails even at the plight of a helpless passenger caught in the ongoing UNC indefinite chakka bandh.

According to the passengers, a Tata winger taxi service identified as Tours & Travels plying from Dimapur to Imphal along the NH-2 promised of security escort service till Imphal and charged the passenger double the normal fare.

The passengers were charged Rs 1200 per head which was normally Rs 600 from Dimapur to Imphal.

However, upon reaching Mao, the drivers of two Tata Wingers could not provide the promised security escort and eventually the passengers realized they had been duped.

Angered over the alleged duping, the passengers who paid double the normal charge reached out to the police and civil bodies located at Mao.

Some stranded passengers who could not afford to hold on for more days in Mao were also seen walking with their luggage under the scorching heat from Mao till Kangpokpi where local buses were available to reach Imphal.

A scene of Senapati Bazaar bearing testimony to UNC's Highway bandh

Latest update from UNC sources confirmed that, the bandh is likely to continue and that only concrete and collective decision will be taken for any changes or new development.

Meanwhile, sentiments among the people continued to run high with the prevailing situation where most of the people blamed the State Government and the police commandos for the present situation.

One of the elders commented, "we have not forgotten the brutal killing of the two innocent students at Mao-gate in 2010 by police commandos.

It is such similar situation we are facing right now" .

Another civil body leader said, "if you are shot, killed or injured during a peace rally which was solely staged to address your grievances then where is our constitutional rights to seek justice and protest democratically? Presently, we are living in a dictatorial regime where our rights are crushed with repressive policy of the State government" .

With no signs of putting an end to the ongoing chakka bandh which has even restricted the local transport vehicles including private vehicles, the stranded vehicles across the border in Khuzama area has swelled up day by day.

On Friday, an alto car was also damaged after it tried to escape the watchful UNC volunteers at Senapati DHQ area.

The car was allegedly carrying around 80 litres of Sekmai liquor before it was intercepted by the volunteers.

Taking a tour from Senapati to Mao gate, bandh supporters were seen in different locations of Senapati DHQ areas, Lairouching, Maram, Makhan, Tadubi and Mao-gate.

The Tribe Hohos especially the student bodies have been strictly monitoring the bandh with no reports of untoward incidents from all the strategic locations.

According to reliable sources, the UNC has also expressed strong resentment over the alleged statement of Deputy CM and Home Minister Gaikhangam on the Ukhrul incident where he allegedly blamed the civilians for the death of two individuals.

Sources have also confirmed that a team of BJP leaders are likely to visit Senapati on Monday and appeal for ending the deadlock between the United Naga Council and the Government of Manipur.