GUWAHATI: Suspected militants fired at a convoy of goods-laden trucks and oil tankers in Manipur’s newly-created Noney district on Tuesday. No casualty was reported, the police said.
The militants had briefly fired from a hilltop in a forested area when the convoy of 300 vehicles was headed to Manipur capital Imphal from southern Assam’s Silchar side via National Highway 37.
“It was a convoy of oil tankers and goods-laden trucks. The militants targeted an oil tanker by firing shots at it from a hill at around 11.30 AM. The ROP (road opening party) immediately returned the fire. After the brief exchange of fire, the militants escaped. There was no casualty or arson in the incident,” Noney superintendent of police TK Anal told Express.
“The firing took place between two ROP posts, which are one kilometre apart from each other,” he said.
Cornered by an indefinite blockade enforced on National Highways 2 and 37 by the United Naga Council (UNC), the Manipur government has been bringing the goods-laden vehicles and oil tankers via the “safer” but little used NH-37 for the past few weeks. National Highway 2 snakes into the State from Nagaland.
Manipur chief secretary O Nabakishor said they were bringing 300 goods-laden vehicles every alternate day.
“Today (Tuesday), we are bringing 300 goods-laden trucks from Silchar-Jiribam side via NH-37. These include 150-200 oil tankers, 80-100 FCI trucks and the rest loaded with commodities. Day after tomorrow, another 300 vehicles will be escorted into the State. We have plans to bring 1,200 vehicles every week,” he said.
The chief secretary said the vehicles were being escorted by CRPF and Manipur Police while Assam Rifles and Army had been engaged in area domination. He said there was no shortage of medicines as the State government had tied up with private airlines.
Source: New Indian Express
