IMPHAL: Following the attack on oil tankers along national highway 37 in Manipur on Tuesday (April 16), the All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters’ Association (AMPPTA) and All Manipur Petroleum Products Drivers Association (AMPPDA) have denounced the attack.
AMPPTA and AMPPDA in Manipur have called for heightened security measures to protect truck drivers navigating the national highways.
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Members of both the associations met Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh to address their concerns and grievances.
They highlighted the vulnerabilities and dangers faced by drivers and urged the Manipur government to reinforce security provisions for trucks traveling along the national highways.
In response to their grievances, Manipur CM N Biren Singh assured the associations of enhanced security measures to safeguard drivers and their vehicles.
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President of the All Manipur Petroleum Product Transporter Association, A Tamphayai, described the alleged attack on oil tankers by armed individuals as deeply regrettable.
The incident has sparked fear among the public, leading to panic buying at fuel stations in Manipur.
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It may be mentioned here that a group of armed men in combat fatigue opened firing at trucks plying on the national highway 37 connecting Imphal-Silchar injuring a driver and causing leakage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), petrol, and diesel on the roadside drains on Tuesday (April 16) morning.
The armed men suspected to be the Kuki militants halted the petrol and LPG tankers plying on this NH-37 at a place in between Tolen Kuki village and Kaimai under the Tousem subdivision of the Tamenglong district of Manipur at around 10:30 am on Tuesday (April 16).
The armed men opened fire at an LPG tanker, and two oil tankers causing leakage of the gas and petroleum products.
In their two-pronged attacks with gunfire, the armed men at the first attempt punctured the tyres of the vehicles and also caused bullet injuries to a driver on his right leg.
On getting the report, a team of the Manipur police and central security forces further to the spot and evacuated the injured driver to a nearby hospital though the petroleum products could not be rescued.
Fortunately, there is no report of the burning of vehicles and inflammable goods.
Also read: Manipur: Suspected Kuki militants fire at petrol & LPG tankers on NH-37, driver injured
Reports stated that the armed men took undue advantage of attacking the vehicles plying on this NH-37 without security escorts.
Because of the elections to the two Lok Sabha elections slated on April 19 and April 26 in Manipur, the government has withdrawn adequate security escorts on the vehicles transported on this road since April 9.
Police registered a case in this regard, officials added.