Imphal, January 02 2008: For the second time, 19 LPG carrier bullet trucks have been reportedly forced to return from Maram area inspite of the presence of escort personnel by armed cadres of the NSCN (IM) today.

In connection with its demand for payment of Rs 15 lakhs as godown tax from the LPG distributors and the LPG bottling plant of the AOC (AOD) at Awang Sekmai, the outfit had forced 20 bullet trucks from Imphal to turn back on December 8 last and one of the LPG loaded truck was detained on December 10 last.

According to information received by the press, in all 19 LPG carrier bullet trucks left Imphal along with escort.

However the trucks were intercepted by some armed persons who identified themselves as cadres of NSCN (IM) at Maram area who told the driver of the first truck to turn back saying that the report of signing an 'agreement' published in newspapers and broadcasted on radio was false.

However, before the armed persons could stop two of the trucks escaped and managed to reach Khuzuma.

Talking to mediapersons, one truck driver identified as Dhanga Prasad of Charhajare informed that the armed persons threatened them not to come that side until the demand is met.

Otherwise, they would be shot dead without any warning.

Prasad recalled that it was around 12.15 pm when the trucks were stopped by the armed persons and the place was not far from Don Bosco School, Maram.

Confronted by the armed persons, some of the security personnel who were escorting the trucks in five Gypsies suggested that it would be better for them to return as there is no agreement while some others insisted that they should go forward and they (security personnel) were there to protect them.

Afterward, caught in a perplexing situation, all the remaining 17 trucks turned back while the escort party went ahead to Mao to bring back bullet trucks and other oil tankers which were expected to arrive from Assam, the driver informed, adding that they were also detained by the Senapati OC at Senapati Bazar for almost one hour.

It may noted here that following the December 8 last incident of forcing the bullet trucks to return back, transporters launched a cease work strike and the functioning of the bottling plant at Awang Sekmai came to a grinding halt from December 16 .

On December 27, transporters met the Chief Minister.

During the meeting which was also attended by Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), Commission (IFC) and DGP, the Chief Minister convinced the transporters they can called off their agitation as the matter had been brought to the notice of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell of the Government of India and Naga rebel group.

Consequently, the transporters resumed their service from December 29 .

Out of 64 trucks that had left Imphal since the resumption of service, 33 loaded trucks arrived on December 31 and the work at the bottling plant resumed on January 1 and supply of the domestic LPG cylinders continued till today.

Meanwhile, the dejected truck drivers who were forced to return back empty-handed today have decided not to ply their trucks until the resolution of the impasse.

Over and above this, they have also decided to stop transportation of filled domestic LPG cylinders from the bottling plant at Awang Sekmai.

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