Truckers to cease operation on NH-37
Action against Jiri SP demanded
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 18 2026: No trucks and tankers will operate on the NH-37 from tomorrow until the State Government takes actions against Superintendent of Police of Jiribam district, said the Transporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) today.

Accusing the SP of "harassing" drivers, the TDC said the Government must take appropriate actions against the officer and transfer him as demanded earlier.

Speaking to reporters, TDC president Hijam Ranjit said, "The SP Jiribam, using old and expired orders, has falsely accused truckers of carrying loads beyond limit, and is confiscating documents from drivers and detaining vehicles" .

Ranjit said the issue stems from a video of a vehicle being stuck in mud on the Imphal-Jiribam highway.

When an enquiry was made about the stuck vehicle by a higher official of the Government, the SP gave false information and blamed the driver for carrying loads beyond limit, Ranjit said.

The vehicle was stuck in the mud due to the pathetic condition of the road, but the SP claimed it was because the truck was carrying loads beyond the permitted 24 tonnes, Ranjit said.

He added the SP also produced "old and expired orders" to falsely accuse trucks of carrying loads beyond 24 tonnes.

Ranjit explained that the orders which were produced by the SP were of the time when Makru, Barak and Irang bridges were all bailey bridges.

During the time, the load per vehicle was limited to 24 tonnes, depending on the type and capacity of the vehicles.

Now, all the bridges have been reconstructed and there are no bailey bridges along the route.

The SP producing old and expired orders is a deliberate attempt to blame the drivers for the bad road conditions and show them in poor light, Ranjit said.

The trucks which are carrying essential items and other commodities to Imphal come from different places, including Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and many other States.

The vehicles didn't get stuck on the highways in those States but only in Manipur.

The trucks aren't carrying loads beyond permitted limits, but the road is in such a poor condition that vehicles are getting stuck all the time, Ranjit said.

"While attempting to blame the drivers, the SP is also harassing drivers, confiscating documents, detaining their vehicles and issuing challans wrongly," Ranjit alleged.

The SP's conduct has caused great difficulties to the drivers, and is discouraging drivers from plying the Jiribam-Highway, Ranjit said, demanding the Government to take action against the officer and transfer him from the district.

No vehicles will ply the Imphal-Jiribam road until the SP is transferred from the district, Ranjit added.

The All Jiribam Road Transport Drivers' Union, meanwhile, has also backed the TDC's claim and urged the Government to take strong action against the SP .

Comment