TDC threatens to launch stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 16, 2013: The Tran-sporters' and Drivers' Council (TDC) has decided to put all commercial vehicles off the roads on February 20 and 21 if the Government fails to take up necessary actions against Im-phal East SDPO Manjit for firing gas shells and rubber bullets to transporters and drivers who were mourning and paying last respects to truck driver Ningombam Gobardhan who was found killed at Kohima.

Gobardhan who was transporting sugar from Dimapur FCI godown to Imphal was found murdered near Kohima town on February 7. Speaking to media persons today at their MG Avenue of-fice, TDC president H Ranjit said that while people were paying tributes to the mortal remains of driver Gobardhan at Mantripukhri, a police team led by SDPO Manjit fired se-veral rounds of tear gas shells and rubber bullets to the people, who were mourning the death of Gobardhan, without giving any warning.

Even as the Chief Minister was reportedly agreeable to the TDC's demand to take up certain actions against the SDPO, nothing has been done till date.

In case the Government fails to take up some concrete actions against the SDPO by February 20, drivers of all commercial vehicles would undertake cease work strike for two days on February 21 and 22, Ranjit said.

During this agitation, there would be no uploading or downloading of goods at FCI as well as FCS godowns.

However, religious activities and functions would be exempted from the purview of the strike.

If the Government still continues to condone SDPO Manjit even after this round of agitation, transporters and drivers would launch indefinite cease work strike.

Rajesh Prasad, owner of the truck (registration number MN-01-5835) which was dri-ven by Gobardhan, has assu- red that he would extend mo-netary relief of Rs five lakhs to the bereaved family of Gobardhan.

Kullamani, general secretary of the Drivers' Union which is a component of TDC, said that the Union sup-ports the decision to launch cease work strike for two days.

He also appealed to all drivers of commercial vehicles to support the strike.

The All Manipur Bus Owners' Federation has also pledged support to the proposed strike.

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