IMPHAL, August 13: A truck driver who was critically injured in the attack of blockade supporters on the NH-37 on August 3 succumbed to his injuries at 5:50 am today.
The deceased has been identified as Md Rahman, 35, s/o Mufi of Keirao Mayai Leikai. He had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Shija Hospital and Research Institute since the fateful day.
Furious with the death of Rahman, the Transporters and Drivers Council Manipur and All Manipur Road Transporters, Drivers and Motor Workers Union have decided to go on strike for 17 hours beginning from today midnight.
Addressing media persons today, secretary of All Manipur Road Transporters, Drivers and Motor Workers Union, H Kulamani stated that the union strongly condemned brutal assaults on drivers and handymen by blockade and bandh supporters.
The drivers have been rendering valuable services to the public by transporting essential commodities.
The inhumane treatment meted out to the drivers will be a setback to the society, he asserted.
He further questioned the blockade supporters if they would get their demands by simply assaulting the innocent drivers.
He demanded that the state government should give sufficient ex-gratia along with a government job for the next of kin of the deceased driver.
Health Minister L Jayentakumar also interacted with the victim’s family members and members of the drivers’ union.
He condemned the incident and assured that necessary action would be taken up from the side of the state government.
The members of Transporters and Drivers Council Manipur and All Manipur Road Transporters, Drivers and Motor Workers Union paid tribute to Rahman at Mantripukhri before performing the last rites.