AR reigns on NH 102, violates Article 19 of Indian Constitution
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 13 2014: Even though the Constitution of India in its article 19 (1) (D) provides free movement of citizens in any part of the country, the Assam Rifles posted in Manipur have violated the constitutional provisions by blocking free movement of commuters on national highways.

The Assam Rifles have been imposing restrictions on movement of vehicles from 6 pm to 6 am everyday on the national highway number 102 (Imphal-Moreh road) specifically at Khudengthabi, Tengnoupal and Kondong Lairembi posts.

Vehicles coming from Imphal to Moreh are halted at the check post of 9th Assam Rifles at Khudengthabi and not allowed to enter Moreh after 6 pm.

Similarly, vehicles heading to Imphal from Moreh are not allowed to pass after 6 pm daily.

Consequently, passenger and private vehicles including those with patients have to stay on the roads till 6 am of the next day.

With a view to provide safety and protection for passengers on national highways, Highway protection forces have been instituted in almost all parts of the country.

However, in Manipur the Assam Rifles have been reigning on the national highway 102 apparently acting on their arbitrariness.

On almost all days, vehicles plying on Imphal-Moreh road have to wait for hours to pass the check-post at Khudengthabi.

In such a scenario, visit to Moreh has become a hardship for the public.

Following a bomb attack on Wednesday at Holenphai village, civil organisations in Moreh imposed a bandh from 7 am to 4 pm today.

Even after the bandh, troops of 9 Assam Rifles halted all vehicles leaving Moreh for Imphal at Kondong Lairembi.

Even the vehicles ferrying patients were not spared.

Passengers halted at the place informed this Daily that the AR even prevented the vehicle of First Class Magistrate Moreh to head towards Imphal.

The Imphal bound passengers had been eagerly waiting for the bandh to end, however after the bandh they were not allowed to proceed to Imphal, they lamented.

Hearing the news of vehicle blockage, the JMIC Moreh and the SDPO Moreh personally came to the place to intervene into the matter.

After a brief altercation with the AR personnel, the vehicle of the Magistrate was allowed to go.

Although the Magistrate insisted the AR team to release the vehicles with patients, the latter did not release the vehicles for want of orders from their higher authority.

The situation clearly reveals that Assam Rifles have been acting arbitrarily on this national highway in violation of the law of the land.

Numerous passengers on the highway drew the attention of the state and central governments to look into the matter.

In another report, no vehicle including government vehicles was allowed to enter from Moreh police station to Namphalong gate in the border town in view of the visit of GOC 3 Corp to the Assam Rifles Camp a few days back.

Even the vehicles belonging to state government bureaucrat officials were frisked during the cordon.

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