Imphal, December 20 2008: PRICE OF the cooking gas in Manipur skyrocketed since the authorized agents stopped distribution of the same following the suspension of supply of refilled LPG cylinders from the Sekmai Bottling Plant three days back.

Even though, agents stopped distribution, refilled gas cylinders are available in the black market at the rate from Rs.500 to Rs.550 per cylinder.

The cost of a refilled cylinder is Rs.350 at the normal time.

The Sekmai Bottling Plant has been closed down from Thursday after the bulk LPG stock at the plant exhausted following the suspension of the services of LPG bulk carrying trucks commonly known as bullet trucks.

The bullet truckers have been suspending transportation of the bulk gas after one bullet truck along with the driver was kidnapped by cadres of a hill based militants group maintaining suspension of operation (SoO) with the security forces on December 10 last.

The truck and driver which was taken into captivity by the militant group on the monetary demand from the bottling plant was however rescued by the troops of Assam Rifles from Kangpokpi in Senapati district on December 18.But the truckers refused to resume their services citing that they have no security while plying on the highway.

LPG cooking gas which Manipur used by importing from Assam as refilled cylinder was later transported in bulk with the commencement of functioning of Sekmai Gas Bottling Plant.

A total of 50 bulk tanker trucks are feeding the plant.

But they suspended transportation of the same after the kidnapping of one of their colleagues by the militants.

Meanwhile, a high level security meeting convened by the state chief minister, O Ibobi Singh today at his office bungalow has discussed on the emerging problems on the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 including blockades imposed by civil organizations and threats on the truckers and buses traveling on the highways passing through the state.

Mention may be made that while the Naga People Organisation is continuing its "total cut-off" stir by blocking all kinds of vehicles passing through the Senapati district, a local joint action committee (JAC) over the shooting of dead of a local youth at Sekmai has also been imposing blockade on this section of the highway since last Wednesday.

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