Human tragedy spawned by the blockade imposed on NH-2
Snatching away the hand that fed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 06 2011: "As I am always on the move, please pray for me to Allah every day" .

These are the words that Abdul Rahman, a truck driver who lost his life in an unfortunate incident that took place at Keithelmanbi during the course of the ongoing economic blockade over the Sadar hills district demand, said to his father while he was alive.

Abdul Rahman sustained grievous injuries during an attack on his truck by blockade supporters on August 2 and after battling for his life for days passed away on August 12 at Shija Hospital.

The incident occurred while Abdul Rahman was returning to Imphal from Jiribam.

Just 18-years of age, Abdul Rahman became a truck driver very early in life in the struggle for survival, facing the usual trials and tribulations that any truck drivers encounter while performing their service along the National Highways.

At one occasion, he was even abducted by UGs.

But he could not give up the profession of being a truck driver as the need to supplement the income of his family was great.

Abdul Rahman with his wife

Being the eldest of seven siblings born to the family of Md Mufijudin of Keirao Makting, the responsibility of assisting his father, who works as a rickshaw driver, in looking after the needs of the family fell squarely on the tender shoulder of Abdul Rahman since childhood.

Because of his dutifulness, Abdul Rahman was called 'Naha' by his father and 'Mani' by his mother.

Every time he returned from his travel, Abdul Rahman never failed to bring medicines for his ailing mother and rice to keep the hearth of the family burning.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Mufijudin, who has been invoking the 'dua' of his son, informed that since Abdul Rahman was always on the move, he requested him to pray to Allah every day for his well-being.

Abdul Rahman even bought a Koran for the purpose, the heartbroken father added, while showing the holy book.

"As my son Naha is no more, I can no longer ensure continuation of education of my other surviving children," Mufijudin cried.

"It is with the half a bag of rice that Abdul used to bring while he was alive, that all the family members were kept fed," the father said.

The family has no agricultural land for cultivation of paddy and others.

It was after Abdul Rahman was abducted in Senapati district that his mother suffered mental trauma never to recover fully.

Mufijudin said, "Let what happened to my son be the first and the last, and let us ensure no similar incident is repeated" .

Expressing concern over the hardships being faced by the people on account of the ongoing economic blockades, Mufijudin also fervently appealed for lifting the blockade.

The Government has provided the promised ex-gratia and the drivers' union has been trying its best to ensure that the assured job offer of the Government is implemented, Mufijudin added.

A blockade related mishap had earlier killed three women.