Petroleum dealers cease service, stage protest
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 01 2024: After a fruitless meeting between petroleum truck drivers and the government regarding monetary demands by armed militants from trucks transporting petroleum products, Manipur Petroleum Dealers' Fraternity has ceased transportation of petroleum products and launched sit-in protest from Thursday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the protest organised by the Dealers at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai community hall on Thursday, one Ng Mamta Devi disclosed that armed groups have been making monetary demands from petroleum truck drivers and dealers.

When these demands are not met, the groups resort to assaulting the drivers and targeting dealers, forcing the truckers cease work to air their grievances.

The sit-in protest was organised primarily to support the drivers' agitation and to urge government authorities to ensure that no monetary demands are made on the truck drivers and dealers, she added.

Mamta also revealed that armed groups are insisting on payment of Rs 6500 from every petroleum driver, with those unable to pay barred from taking the highway.

She further stated that besides monetary demands by armed groups along the national highways, various organisations in the valley are also making demands beyond the drivers' capacity.

She reasoned that as the government seems indifferent to plight of the petroleum drivers and dealers, they have decided to continue their cease-work strike.

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