KSDC bandh severely effects movement of oil tankers

IMPHAL, February 25: The public blockade called by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) coming into effect in the intervening midnight between yesterday and today have brought all  oil Tankers under the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers Drivers’ Union (AMPTDU) to a complete halt.

According to information received by IFP, as per the normal routine empty oil tankers leave Imphal late night and reach Mao gate the next morning. After leaving Mao gate in the morning, they pass through Kohima, Nagaland before the traffic congestion pile up and  to reach Dimapur.

Following the bandh, no oil tanker left Imphal yesterday night.

On the other hand, no Imphal bound oil tankers loaded with oil and LPG have come in to the state.

The source further said that another reason why oil tankers stopped their normal service is that CRPF personnel who escorted tankers have been engaged in election duty at Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura.

However there are more than enough loaded oil tankers at the interstate bus Terminus (ISBT) , Khuman lampak and there is oil in abundance at the depot of the Indian oil Corporation (IOC).

It may be mentioned that KSDC called the indefinite public blockade demanding a separate state for Kukis and the initiation of peace process with the umbrella organisation of the Kuki UG group, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United people’s Front (UPF) and Manipur and central government representatives.

KANGPOKPI, February 25: The Kuki State Demand Committee “Public Blockade” in all Kuki dominated areas has partially affect normal life in NH-2 in the first day.

The road looks deserted in the morning since all passenger buses and others traffics stopped plying along the route. But business establishment, Educational institutions went as usual.

Traffic resumed service as usual in the afternoon confusing the general public. The reason could not be confirmed.

One reliable source informed that, in view of the forthcoming HSLC and HSSLC examination and in the interest of the student community who are to sit in the said examinations, local passenger bus service is relax from the bandh.

Passenger bus from Senapati to Imphal and Kangpokpi to Imphal is relaxed from the purview of the KSDC bandh as local adjustment in the interest of the students community, added the source.

However, the source informed that, inter-state bus service, loaded trucks and other four wheelers plying through NH-2 as passengers carrier from Imphal to Dimapur will not be relaxed from the bandh.

Mentioned may be made that, this morning while a media person from Kangpokpi went to fetch newspaper at Imphal came across students from different school walking for at least ½ Kms.to reach their respective school.

One of the students who were on the way to their school while talking with the media person said that, bandh and blockade has adversely affected the student community in the state. He further said that, such activities in the state create lassitude in studying among the students thereby demolishing so many student future careers.

This student also said that, he started his journey early morning without food to be on time to school since there will be no buses plying on the route due to the bandh.

“I am very tired but I have no other means”, added the student.

Another unconfirmed source informed that, there are some loaded trucks stranded in Senapati due to the KSDC Public Blockade in the Kuki dominated areas in the state.