Club clarifies on 'rice truck' attack slur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 16 2023:
Raising strong objection against the allegations levelled by Silchar Truck Drivers' Association over an incident involving a rice laden truck, Youth Convention Imphal (YCI), Singjamei Chirom Leikai clarified that there was no such incident of snatching cash and mobile phones from the truck driver on June 9 at Singjamei Chirom Leikai area.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here on Friday, YCI secretary RK Imo said that the local Meira Paibi activists and youths of Chirom Leikai ensured the safety of the driver and his companion as they guarded the truck the whole night.
Recalling the incident, he said that mob of about 900 people converged on June 9 and checked the said truck around 11.30 pm in Chirom Leikai area during which three non-Manipuris were found in truck.
When the mob checked the challan, it was found that the original destination of the rice truck was Sawombung but they were asked to go to Thoubal instead.
As the people questioned the three occupants, the trio's replies differed from another which made the mob suspi cious on possibility of transporting the rice to Moreh.
Some also pulled down few bags of rice to check for any hidden arms.
In the meantime, Meira Paibi organisations of Singjamei Chirom Leikai and Singjamei Chongtham Leikai along with local residents tried to control the mob and pacified the mob from deflating the tyres of the truck and burning it while escorting the drivers and co-drivers to a safer location.
They also tried to contact the contractor concerned but was not responded to phone calls.
Considering the situation, the local Meira Paibi members and youths stayed on guard the whole night, he said while decrying the allegations by Silchar Truck Drivers' Association.
He asked the association to verify his claim with the drivers.
As for the stolen mobile phones, he suggested the association to file a police complaint and trace the phone.
RK Imo further urged all concerned including trans porters of essential com modities to refrain from transporting anything in late night keeping in view of the volatile situation in the state as there are possibilities of mis understanding and unwanted incidents.