HC comes down heavily on blockade logjam
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 25 2017: In order to ensure smooth passage along NH-37 and NH-2 of goods carriages, sufficient quantity of food grains and to check price rise, the High Court of Manipur has directed GOC 57 Mountain Division/IGAR (South) to arrest any person against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he would be committing a cognizance offence to put hindrance in the movement of vehicular traffic along the NHs in the area under their control.

The Court further directed the armed forces/Assam Rifles to cooperate with the Executive Magistrate (s) who would be deputed by the State Government over the trouble areas.

It also directed the Central Government to provide 72 companies of security forces for disposal by the State Government so that they can be deployed over the areas including those, as has been identified as vulnerable areas in the meeting held on January 19 last, to check any person or group of persons who come out on the road either on NH-37 or NH-2 to enforce the blockade.

In case the State Government/District Magistrate concerned is apprehensive of untoward incidents in spite of all the measures being taken, they would promulgate prohibitory orders under CrPC 144, it stated.

Along with directing the State Government to take measures to increase the frequency of convoy to at least 15 to 20 in a month particularly along NH-37, the Court asked the Central Government to take immediate measures to improve the condition of the road which is in very bad shape so as to make it pliable/motorable especially from Awangkhul to Khongsang, 5 kms on either side of Irang Bridge and 2 kms on either side of Barak bridge.

The State Government has also been directed to adopt a mechanism keeping in view the dearth of consumable items or any other items including petroleum products for its transportation by giving prioroty to it.

In view of the acute scarcity of petroleum products, the Court directed IOC to take measures for transportation of the same from its Ramnagar terminal to Imphal.

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