Manipur escort vehicles inadequate Truckers seek more security

Manipur escort vehicles inadequate

Imphal, Jan 10 : A large number of empty trucks and oil tankers returned to Imphal from Senapati district this afternoon complaining that the security escorts provided by the government were inadequate. However, some tankers and trucks were escorted up to Mao, neighbouring Nagaland. The Okram Ibobi Singh government has been providing security escorts for supply trucks and tankers between Imphal and Mao gate three days a week because of frequent disturbances by militants and frequent blockades. IRB personnel accompany outgoing trucks and tankers up to Mao while the same team escorts incoming loaded trucks and tankers from Mao to Imphal three days a week. Naga Peoples’ Organisation of Senapati imposed an economic blockade since December 26 midnight demanding the transfer of Senapati deputy commissioner Nidhi Kesawarni, charging her of misappropriating funds, a charge denied by the official. Today being one of the days for escort, 270 empty trucks and tankers bound for Assam and other parts of the country were waiting for the escort team near Mayang-khang in Senapati district. The drivers said there was no problem up to Mayangkhang near the district headquarters. “So we went ahead without waiting for the escorts to come from Imphal. When the escort team came with some tankers and trucks, the trucks waiting there wanted to go along with the escorts. But the team refused to take them, as it was risky for them to guide all the vehicles. Thus, the team went ahead with only the vehicles escorted from Imphal,” a driver said. After this the 270 trucks and tankers returned to Imphal. Nishit K. Ujwal, the superintendent of police, Senapati, said the vehicles were escorted today as usual. He said he did not receive any complaint from any trucker or tanker. The police officer said a joint control room of the Assam Rifles, the army, the BSF and the police opened last month at 59 Mountain Brigade located near the district headquarters had been monitoring the movement of supply trucks along the Imphal-Kohima highway. Sources said some misunderstandings might have led to today’s incident. They said all vehicles should leave Imphal together along with the escorts. If vehicles joined midway it not only created confusion but also security problems because of inadequate security personnel. Bhupenchandra Ghose, president of All Manipur Tanker Drivers’ Union, demanded that the number of security escort vehicles be increased. Earlier, the government used to provide 16 escort vehicles. The number has dwindled to seven, he added.