IMPHAL, Dec 19: After suspected UNC volunteers set ablaze a passenger bus and a Tata Sumo at Taphou Naga village near Mt Everest Higher Secondary School, some people retaliated by imposing counter economic blockade at Sekmai and set ablaze two Bolero jeeps today.
A passenger bus (Koubru Express) plying between Senapati and Imphal was heading for Senapati district headquarters with around 60 passengers as usual.
However, when the passenger bus reached Taphou Naga village, some suspected UNC economic blockade supporters stopped the passenger bus and set it ablaze after allowing all the passengers to get down. Soon after economic blockade supporters torched a private Tata Sumo jeep at the same spot.
It is reported that the damaged Tata Sumo belong to a man from Singjamei. According to the owner cum driver of the passenger bus Khwairakpam Achou of Sekmai Makha Leikai, he was transporting passengers in his bus from Sekmai to Senapati as usual before he was intercepted and the bus set ablaze by economic blockade supporters.
On learning about the arson, Senapati district police and Assam Rifles personnel rushed to the spot. Achou somehow managed to reach home after the incident. As reports of two vehicles being torched reached Sekmai, a large number of angry locals of Sekmai area imposed counter economic blockade at different locations of Sekmai area.
The counter economic blockade supporters checked all the vehicles which came along the road, goods found transported were pulled down and destroyed. A team of Imphal West District Police led by SDPO Lamphel rushed to the spot to control the situation.
The mob forced all vehicles heading toward Imphal to turn back but those travelling in opposite direction were allowed to proceed after checking their vehicles if they were carrying any goods. Later in the evening, the counter economic blockade supporters dismantled wind-shields of one A star car and a Wagon R at Sekmai Nongthonband.
The situation turned worse after two Bolero jeeps were set ablaze by counter economic blockade supporters at the same location.
On the other hand, it is also reported that two trucks loaded with irons rod were burnt down by suspected UNC economic blockade supporters today early morning at Makhan village, Senapati district under Mao police station. Two more vehicles coming toward Imphal were also set ablaze by counter economic blockade supporters at Saijang area, Imphal East district under Lamlai police station at around 10 am today.
Counter economic blockade was also imposed at Uripok and Sagolband areas in the evening. However there is no report of any unwanted incident.
Source: The Sangai Express
