IMPHAL, July 2: In view of the assurance given to Manipur Transporter &Drivers Forum to fulfill their charter of demands and appeal to the forum by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, the forum has decided to call off its steering down strike with immediate effect during a meeting between the Deputy Chief Minister and Y Bhupenchandra Ghosh, president, Manipur Transporter & Drivers Forum alongwith other representative of the forum held at Deputy Chief Minister office chamber around 4:30 pm.
The decision of the drivers’ forum was announced today by Deputy CM Gaikhangam during a press conference at his office chamber this evening.
He further said that during the meeting, it was decided that the government will take proper action on the demands including not to establish police check-post along the highways close to each other; to check police disturbance on the drivers along the highways and to check the collection of money in the name of tax; check tax collection by SoO signatories along the highway from the drivers and to take up speedy steps for the establishment of National Highway Protection Force.
He further elaborated that the government will further look into the issue of payment of compensation to the owners of 10 trucks which were left out from 39 of which were destroyed during blockade related violence till 2011.
The government will also look into the remaining demands of the forum, he said.
Regarding the establishment of a Highway Protection Force, he said that the government is also concerned about it and has also urged the central government requesting to provide two battalions of IRB.
He said, the state government will again pressurize the central government on the issue.
He further congratulated the police department for arresting the culprit in the alleged killing of auto driver (L) Y Deben.
The government and police department have to take up drastic steps to bring justice, he said.
Declaring that rape cases have increased drastically in the state, he said, the government has no sympathy for such criminals and will certainly punish all those who commit such heinous crimes.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media person at the Manipur Press Club Bhupendra Gosh, president of the transporter and drivers forum said that the forum has called off the agitation following assurance on their demands which include setting up a High protection force along both the national Highways of the state, compensations for the remain 10 vehicles out of 37 vehicles which was damage in the both national highways and a job for the wife of the Driver Babu who was killed by unknown persons on 17th April along the national highway number 37 Imphal -Jiri road