Trucks attacked on NH, search ops continue
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 28 2023:
A tanker driver suffered injuries on his head while windshields of some vehicles damaged when stones were pelted from a Kuki village towards a convoy of oil tankers and goods trucks escorted by CRPF.
The incident happened at Seijang village near Kotlen along NH-37 at about 12.30pm on Saturday when the convoy was coming towards Imphal from Noney.
Meanwhile, All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporters' Association lodged a complaint in this regard at Imphal Police Station.
According to some drivers who encountered the incident, the convoy of oil tankers and goods trucks left Jiri on Friday morning and reached Noney.
After halting the night at Noney, the convoy moved towards Imphal under CRPF escort starting from 10.30am.At about 12.30pm, the convoy escorted by CRPF was attacked with stones pelted from Seijang village near Kotlen.
Windshields of four vehicles got damaged in the attack while a tanker driver suffered minor injury on his head, the drivers said and drew immediate attention of the government to prevent such incidents in future.
The drivers further informed media persons that stones were also pelted on a private Tata Winger vehicle carrying CRPF personnel but the personnel denied encountering the incident when asked and left the place without hearing complaint of the drivers.
There had been incidents of firing and stone pelting towards the convoy of tankers/ trucks along NH-37 very often but CRPF personnel escorting the convoy remained silent spectators and did nothing, they alleged.
When asked about their inaction, CRPF personnel always replied that they do not get order to take action, the drivers claimed and asked if CRPF personnel are escorting tankers/trucks or drivers are protecting the CRPF personnel.
The government assured of arranging ROP along NH-37 but there is no ROP in majority of the Imphal-Jiribam road stretches except at some locations and this encourages the miscreants to act as they wish against the drivers including extortion, the drivers said.
Meanwhile, combined teams of state and central forces conducted search operations on Saturday and recovered cache of weapons from near Khuga river bank located between Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang Leikai and Kolbung village.
According to a police report, a combined team of Bishnupur district police, 16 Kumaon Regiment and G/169 CRPF conducted a search operation from 5.30am till 7.30am on Saturday near Khuga river bank between Phougakchao Ikhai Mamang Leikai and Kolbung village and recovered one SMG carbine with a magazine containing seven live rounds, one 9mm country made pistol (engraved "253/2013/BO 'A'.
KM" tag) without magazine and ten No 36 hand grenades with detonator.
The recovered weapons have been handed over to Phougakchao Ikhai PS and a case registered.
Meanwhile, a team of Imphal West district police carried out a search operation along Kasturi road from 4pm till 4.45pm on Saturday.
In all, 10 people were verified, of which three without identification papers were handed over to City PS for further verification.
A team of Kakching district Police also conducted search operation in the area from Wabagai Buffalo farm till Thambal Chingya from 6.10am till 7am on Saturday, during which 45 houses were searched and 37 people verified.
However, there were no reports of any arrests or weapons recovered.
On the other hand, a team of Thoubal district police carried out a search operation from 4.30am till 6.30am on Saturday in Thoubal Wangkhem village area.
Altogether 65 people were verified during the operation but no arrests or recovery of weapons made.
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