3 dead as blockade turns ugly on NH 39
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 02 2011:
Three "blockade supporters" were rammed by an oil tanker at Kanglatongbi on the second day of the week long economic blockade imposed by Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) on the two National Highways of Manipur demanding for the declaration of Sadar Hills sub-division into a full fledged district.
In the meanwhile, the demand committee has scaled up its protest in the wake of widespread indifference to the blockade.
An oil tanker today mowed down three women "blockade supporters" in front of Kanglatombi Children Home.
The driver and his handyman also sustained injuries after the truck swerved and hit a tree.
The truck bore the registration no NL 07 A/4211 .
While two of the deceased have been identified as Yaireithai Tangkhul (21), a student and Krishna Maya (65), the third woman who succumbed to her injury at the hospital has not yet been identified.
Two other loaded freight trucks lost control and hit a nearby house and its fencing some 200 meters away from where the oil tanker mowed down three women blockade supporters.
A driver and his handyman were reportedly injured in the incident.
In other blockade related incident today, at about 1.30 pm, when over 100 loaded freight trucks which were approaching Imphal reached Kangpokpi with security escort provided by CRPF, blockade supporters began pelting stones, said a local source.
One loaded truck bearing registration no.NL 03T/1189 was burnt down at Charhajar around 2 pm.
At Kangpokpi at about 3 pm, a loaded freight truck swerved and rammed into a waiting Bolero before turning turtle in the wayside.
The driver of the truck and an occupant of the Bolero sustained injuries and were rushed to a local hospital.
SHDDC has called an indefinite general strike from midnight today in Sadar Hills, said general secretary of SHDDC Tonghen Kipgen at a press meet at Motbung today, and added that except the media no other services will be exempted from the purview of the general strike.
Kipgen also confirmed that the three deceased were "blockade supporters".
"We have sacrificed three more selfless individuals who have contributed immensely in the fight to gain Sadar Hill district.
We are willing to sacrifice more blood and sweat for the cause," he said and added that this shows the sentiment and spirit of the people of Sadar Hills.
With the death of three women today, the death toll since the demand for Sadar Hill district began has gone up to five.
"CM, Ibobi Singh has drained precious blood of the citizens of Manipur with his lack of interest in the demand," the general secretary said.
"If Ibobi thirsts for more blood, we are willing to sacrifice and bleed.
We are fearless as far as the demand for Sadar Hill district is concerned," he said and added that the chief minister follows an anti-tribal policy in developing Imphal city alone while the rest of the district reels in darkness and underdevelopment.
The SHDDC has again appealed to the transporters not to challenge the sentiments of the people of Sadar Hills by being indifferent to the blockade call and said that if such apathy continues, the youth of Sadar Hills will rise to the occasion.
He also said that if any untoward incidents occur in the future, the government will take complete responsibility.
In the meanwhile, barricades were erected and the blockade imposed by women at four places on National Highway 53.However, no major blockade related incident was reported.
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