IMPHAL, February 10: Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council has decided to hand over a sum of of Rs 50 to the family of dead trucker Govardhan as financial assistance and simultaneously appealed to all vehicle owners against forcing their trucks to use the National Highway 2, Imphal DImapur road with an eye for more profits.
During a meeting with media persons this afternoon, H Ranjit, Transporter and Drivers’ Council president reiterated the decision of the transporters to stop plying along the NH 2.
Setting a February 12 deadline for the government to take action against the DSP and his team involved in the firing of tear gas shells and mock bombs during a memorial ceremony of the dead driver at Mantripukhri yesterday, he further warned of serious forms of agitations from the next day onwards if the government failed to meet the deadline.
He said that some vehicle owners, against the decision of the transporters, have been forcing their drivers to stealthily ply along the highway in an attempt to make some profits.
Considering the (L) Govardhan’s family condition, the council has decided to provide a financial assistance of Rs 50 thousand, which will be handed over at the MG Avenue office of the council tomorrow morning at 11am, he continued.
The council has further decided that the truck owner who had made (L) Govardhan to ply along the highway against the earlier decision of the transporters from using the highway should pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family, he informed.
The owner of the truck bearing regd no MN 01 5835, identified as one Ramesh Prasad of Ragailong has been asked to come to the TDC office by 11am of this morning but he failed to turn up till 2pm, he said.
He continued that if in case he failed to turn up till 11am tomorrow, then a criminal case will be filed against him with the police and further urged the police to pick up the truck as evidence in the case.
Since the case is of a suspicious matter, the state government should look into it, he appealed.
He further said that truck owners who force their drivers to ply along NH-2 should pay compensation of Rs 5 lakhs if any untoward incident happens to the driver and warned that such vehicles will further be ousted from the transporters’ community.
On the other hand, the transporters and drivers of the state will initiate agitations from February 13 if the government fail to take up any action against the DSP and his team and those officials who ordered the team to fire tear gas shells and mock bombs at a floral tribute offering ceremony in memory of the dead driver yesterday at Mantripukhri, he said.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Road Transport Drivers’ and Motor Workers’ Union, general secretary H Kulamani said that the union supports the decision of the TDC to stay off the NH 2 and further appealed to all vehicle owners to support it.