IMPHAL, August 18: The last couple of days saw petrol pumps closed down as petrol tankers drivers refused to transport fuel to the depots.
The All Manipur Road Transport Drivers’ & Motor Works’ Union met Consumer Affairs minister M Okendra this evening and arrived to an understanding. Sources said that the truckers has called off the strike and will start delivering fuel to the pumps from Sunday onwards.
It may be mentioned that, in the morning of August 16 convoy of IOCL /bullet LPG vehicles which was being escorted by CRPF was stopped at Mao by supporters of Senapati District Village Chief Association (SDVCA) in protest against the government of Manipur decision to allocate 25 percent of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to the district council in Senapati.
It was also reported that CRPF officials had negotiated with the mob and representatives of SDVCA.
120 vehicles were stranded along with escort vehicles of CRPF. So after a lot of negotiation and persuasion, by CRPF officers the vehicles were allowed to move further, a CRPF statement had said.
But when the vehicles start moving some miscreant pelted stones on the vehicles from the height near road in between Mao and Tadubi in which vehicles bearing the registration numbers of Manipur were selectively targeted and wind screen/window panes of 40 such vehicles were broken, however vehicles having the registration number of Nagaland were not attack, the CRPF had said.