IMPHAL, November 8: With the number of security check posts along Imphal-Moreh Road around 109 km from Imphal increasing day by day, people passing along the road are compelled to face several inconveniences without any reasoning.
Border town Moreh in Chandel district has been regarded as one of the fastest growing centers for border trade between India and neighboring countries.
Taking note of the importance of the road which serves many businessmen and professionals in their works and the inconveniences being faced by people coming to shop at the marketplaces in Namphalong and Tamu bordering Moreh, IFP conducted a survey of the road yesterday.
During the survey, 16 check posts including 13 security check posts and three customs check posts were found.
The 13 security check posts include seven by the Assam Rifles at Bongyang, Tengnoupal (Sita Lamkhai), Lokchao, Molnoi Gate, Khudengthabi and Moreh Gate No 1 and 2.
Whereas the check posts for police and commando personnel are situated at Pallel, Molnoi, Thamnapokpi, Tengnoupal, Savon and Moreh.
Moreh Gate No 1, No 2 and Kundo Lairemba are the places where check posts for customs are located.
At the customs check posts, every person and vehicles coming from Moreh towards Imphal and those coming from Imphal towards Moreh are checked.
Though checking of person and vehicles at the check posts is supposed to start from 6.30 am, normally it begins at 7 am, 30 minutes later from the normal time.
This means that any persons cannot leave the border town for Imphal or head towards Moreh from the capital in a vehicle before 7 am.
If anybody wants to head towards Moreh from Imphal or return to the capital from the border town then he has to line in queue for security checking from 7 am.
In evening, nobody can pass the security check posts after 4 pm. The restriction applies to all vehicles coming from Imphal or Moreh.
However, vehicles in 5-6 group or vehicles for emergency are allowed to pass the check posts up to 5 pm but at their own risk.
After 5 pm, other vehicles are not allowed to pass the check posts. People coming in vehicles after the restriction time have to spend night on the road side.
Due to the long-time taken in checking at the massive security check posts one after another, people coming for emergency services are compelled to face inconveniences.
As less number of vehicles ply along Imphal-Moreh Road during imposition of general strike and economic blockade, people do not face much inconveniences.
Since the number of different vehicles plying along the road has been increased with Ningol Chakouba and Christmas festival coming closer, people are facing much more inevitable inconveniences.
Goods brought in vehicles are pulled downed and checked one by one at the AR check posts at Tengnoupal (Sita Lamkhai) and Khudengthabi.
At the Khudengthabi check post, people including women and children travelling in vehicles are made to get down from the vehicles and walk by foot for checking.
Notably, three photos of goods pulled down from three DI Tata vehicles for checking, captured on camera of a staff of this daily during the survey were deleted after checking them by the AR personnel at Khudengthabi check post.
Talking to this daily, a DI Tata driver on the condition of anonymity said that there is no need to repeatedly mention about collection of money from vehicles during entry at the security check posts.
Expressing unhappiness on the inconveniences which people are facing along the road in the name of security checking, the driver urged the government to intervene into the open collection of money from vehicles at the check posts.