Imphal: Tension escalated along the Assam-Manipur border as nearly 1,500 stranded truckers and tanker drivers protested at the Jiribam police station on Tuesday.
The situation arose after security forces initially dispatched only one convoy instead of the two requested, leaving thousands of people stranded along National Highway 37, which connects Imphal with Silchar via Jiribam.
The Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council (TDC) has warned the government that its five-day ultimatum remains unchanged. TDC President Hijam Ranjit said that if the state government fails to arrange adequate security escorts for the stranded vehicles before the deadline, transporters will drive towards Imphal with or without official protection.
Around 1,500 loaded trucks and fuel tankers have been stranded for more than 15 days along a 20-kilometre stretch of NH-37 between Jiribam and neighbouring areas in Assam. Drivers and handymen are reportedly running short of food and money while facing difficult conditions away from home.
The situation escalated at around 9 am when frustrated truckers gathered at the Jiribam police station. The protesters demanded that authorities fulfil the state police’s request for a second security convoy or allow the transport workers to proceed without escorts.
Earlier in the day, security forces had dispatched a convoy of 150 vehicles, comprising 85 fuel tankers and 65 goods trucks. Following the protest, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed a second convoy by 2 pm to ease the situation.
While the second convoy temporarily eased tensions, TDC officials maintained that transporters could still be forced to travel independently if adequate security arrangements are not made.
Ranjit warned that the government would be held responsible for any untoward incident or security failure if drivers are forced to travel along the highway without armed escorts.