Imphal, September 28: To protest the abduction of driver Md Sahaudin at Khatkati in Assam and lack of security given by the Manipur Government to petroleum transporters, members of All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers� Union have begun a cease work strike from today, informed Union president Y Bhupenchandra.

Md Sahauddin (31) of Yairipok Tulihal Awang leikai is the driver of MN 04-4786 belonging to Baharul Transport Agency, Yairipok.

Sahauddin, father of six children including a recently born daughter, is the only bread winner of the family.

He was abducted by five unidentified gunmen on September 21 morning while changing tyre at one Brojen Workshop located in Khatkati area of Karbi Anglong district in Assam.

The armed men did not take away the assistant driver of the vehicle that was loaded with 12,000 litres of diesel from Tinsukia refinery and heading towards Imphal.

Recalling that in the past also several innocent drivers have had to face severe inconveniences at the hands of armed assailants, the Union president fervently appealed to all concerned not to target drivers because of differences with the vehicle owner/s and urged the abductors to release Sahauddin without any condition at the earliest.

Bhupenchandra also conveyed that the drivers' decision not to take the wheel from today was arrived at a general body meeting of the Union.

He also lamented that till date no concrete security measures have been taken up for drivers by either the Assam Government, Assam Oil Division or the Manipur Government with the exception of deputing one MR jamadar at the Khatkati CRPF camp for serializing the fuel trans- porters.

The transporters also face severe inconveniences due to absence of proper parking lot, basic sanitation facility and resting place at the fuel refilling site, the president added.

From near Raj palace till Forest Gate of Khatkati about 100 fuel transport vehicles have to park at the roadside with the drivers themselves having to cough up parking fee to private agencies, he explained on hardships faced by the drivers while adding that Assam police swoop and thrash drivers/assistants mercilessly whenever the vehicles are park- ed beyond certain limits.

Coming down heavily upon the vehicle owners for lack of initiative on welfare scheme for the drivers, Bhupenchandra also expressed that in case the owners are unwilling to adopt certain welfare measures the Union is ready to demand better facilities from Assam Oil Division authorities.

He also highlighted that ever since the Apunba Lup imposed national Highways (39-53) blockade the Union members obliged to the agitation from September 19 and currently filled tankers numbering 75 are stranded in between Khatkati and Tinsukia.

On fuel stock in the State depot, Bhupenchandra contended that petrol stock might last for 11 days, diesel 20 and kerosene for about 17 days.

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