Imphal, August 14: Representatives of the All Manipur Road Transport Workers and Drivers Union will leave for Zakhama on August 17 to bring back the drivers and handyman stranded on NH-39, due to the economic blockade if the state government failed to provide security to the trucks for secure passage to Imphal before August 16.Addressing a press conference this afternoon, a spokesman of the union also strongly denied the statement of the PRO, police department, issued yesterday, which claimed that the stranded truck drivers refused to come along with the security provided yesterday to bring the stranded vehicles and trucks.

The spokesman said the security personnel had refused to escort the trucks, saying that the security arrangement was only for the oil tankers.

The spokesman added that at present, around 200 trucks are stranded in between Jakhama and Mao, while another 150 Imphal bound trucks are stranded on the Assam- Nagaland border.

Another 150 loaded and unloaded trucks are still at Guwahati, he said.

He stated that the union has decided to bring back the willing drivers and handymen, leaving their trucks behind, if the government failed to provide necessary security for them.

He added that the union will come to an understanding with the truck owners regarding the problems faced by the drivers.

He declared that the state government will be held responsible for any untoward incident occurring to the trucks stranded on the highway, or to their drivers.

Regarding the two drivers missing after their trucks were hijacked and set ablaze in Dimapur on the evening of August 10 last, the union appealed to the concerned for their safe released.

The union spokesman added that interstate passenger buses would not be allowed to ply if matters got worse.

In the meantime, the All Manipur Drivers Welfare Association has decided to launch a series of protests in the wake of the state government�s failure to help locate the two missing drivers.

In this connection according to association sources, truck and interstate tourist coach services plying on the two national highways would stray off duty on August 16 and 17.Therefore, the association will observe an indefinite cease-work strike, except for tourist coaches, in all districts.

Apart from heavy trucks and goods carriers, 407 minitrucks would also under the purview of the agitation.

The association will however relax the agitation for incoming trucks and others stranded on the highways owing to the current blockade.

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