IMPHAL, Sept 27: Two Maruti vans were reportedly damaged today at Kakching Lamkhai in an attack carried out by supporters of the indefinite chaka bandh imposed by the JAC Imphal-Moreh Road Transporters and All Manipur Transporters Drivers and Motor Workers Union.
The incident occurred in the morning today around 9:30 am. Reports said that bandh supporters armed with sticks and stones attacked the vans bearing registration nos MN01K-3818 and MN04-7764 heading for Chandel.
However no occupants inside the vans were injured during the attack though the windshields of the vans were damaged.
Meanwhile, talking to media persons during a press meet held today at TDC office, Imphal, Ng. Haridas, secretary of JAC Imphal-Moreh road, refuted the claim made by the SP Chandel, claiming that the September 23 incident at Thamnapokpi when a driver was seriously injured and his vehicles damaged by blockade supporters was an accident.
The JAC secretary countering the statement of the police officers alleged that the sumo driver was beaten by blockade supporters of UNC near Thamnapokpi.
He further alleged that during the night of September 23, two UNC blockade supporters coming on a motor bike snatch the keys of about 40 vehicles heading for Imphal near Bonjang village along the NH-2 (39).
The next day, the Tengnoupal OC recorded the numbers and names of the drivers of the vehicles that were stranded at Bongjang.
However instead of taking action against the perpetrators and rescuing the keys from the blockade supporters, he informed the transporters to collect the keys from the UNC, he alleged.
He further alleged that the UNC supporters collected Rs 500 to 1000 each from the transporters in exchange of their keys.
Decrying the incidents, he stated that the incidents are insults to the transporter community and unrged the authority concerned to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.
In the meantime, a loaded Oil Tanker carrying diesel coming from Jiribam accidentally fell into a gorge along the National Highway 37 (53) this afternoon around 2 pm near Kotlen.
Miraculously, the driver and the handyman escaped with minor injuries. At the same time, except for some minor leakage, the tank mounted on the truck remained intact.
The ill fated truck was among the convoy of 526 trucks escorted back to Imphal by security forces from Jiribam and includes five petroleum tankers, 518 goods laden trucks and two 407 mini trucks.