Truck torched, MDA suspects efficiency of SFs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 20 2024:
Suspected Kuki volunteers set on fire an empty Tata Truck (NL01AE-7895) heading towards Senapati, near Alex Farm along National Highway-2 under Kangpokpi police station on Wednesday around 9 pm.
Kangpokpi District Fire Ser vice and Kangpokpi district police tried to extinguish the flames, but the fire had consumed major portion of the truck before anything could be done.
Mention may be made here that suspected Kuki volunteers had also torched a bus, belonging to a Meetei but used for transporting CRPF personnel at Kangpokpi Bazar under Kangpokpi PS on June 17 .
Meanwhile, Manipur Drivers' Association (MDA) has questioned inaction of security forces when trucks and buses along the National Highways are being torched right in front of their eyes.
In a press meet held at MDA office, Kwakeithel, here, on Thursday afternoon, general secretary Sanjoy Kshetrimayum questioned why the CRPF personnel who were being transported in two buses stood by in silence when they were made to alight from the buses by Kuki women in Kangpokpi and set fire on the buses after learning they belong to a Meetei.
He also recounted the gun attack on four oil tankers and a gas bullet tanker along NH-37 on April 16 by armed Kukis, that left two drivers injured.
After the incident, the truck drivers and owners met the chief secretary who then issued an order for security forces to act promptly if any vehicle plying along the national highways is obstructed.
However, it is questionable why the security forces are unable to take action in any of incidents till date, he posed.
Sanjoy then recalled the torching of a vehicle after being intercepted by Kukis before reaching T Khullen, just two kilometres from Kangpokpi Bazar on Wednesday night.
He said that MDA had been repeatedly urging against threatening drivers plying along the national highways, in addition to demanding the deployment of a Highway Protection Task Force and enforcing adequate ROP.
Regarding the vehicle torched in Kangpokpi on Thursday, he informed that the current owner of the bus is one Md Rahzuddin of Kwakta.
As such, he demanded the state government to provide adequate compensation to the bus owner, while further appealing to the government to take up immediate measures to prevent a repeat of such incidents in the future.