The Coordination Committee POL and Bulk LPG tanker drivers on Saturday launched a cease work strike from Saturday by stating a protest where they raised the demand to ensure safety of the drivers plying along national highways of strife-torn Manipur.
As a part of the strike, drivers of Coordinating Committee POL and Bulk LPG drivers staged a one-day sit-in-protest in front of Malom Oil Depot, Imphal West.
Some cadres of United Kuki National Army (UKNA), an underground outfit, on Tuesday ambushed a convoy of oil tankers, including LPG gas bullets at Tolen village, Kaimai area, along Imphal-Jiribam National Highway. Two drivers sustained bullet injuries while five oil tankers and a LPG gas bullet tankers were damaged in the incident
UKNA issued a press note, stating that the outfit is responsible for the ambush which was carried out as their first offensive operation against the supply of the essential commodities and other weapons in aid of the Meitei community.
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On the sideline of the protest, All Manipur Tanker Driver’s Union secretary Pukhrambam John alias Tomba said the drivers have been serving the entire people of the state irrespective of caste, creed and community. Even during critical hours and natural disasters including massive landslides and others, the drivers have been trying their level best in transporting essential goods for the people of Manipur.
The union strongly condemned the firing incident at Tolen village, he added. The drivers were declared as frontline warriors during the pandemic, but no compensation from the government was delivered to any of the drivers at the time of need, he said.
Security personnel were provided for each tanker earlier, but a CRPF vehicle is provided for each 30 tankers at present, he mentioned. Unfortunately, they were told that the CRPF was not given any order for retaliation if any person or group attacked the oil tankers along the highway, he said. “What is the use of providing security if they cannot protect the tankers?” he questioned.
John further said that the Coordinating Committee POL and Bulk LPG drivers have submitted a four-point memorandum to the governor and chief secretary of Manipur respectively on Saturday.
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He announced that the drivers under the umbrella of the committee will cease work with immediate effect if the demands are not fulfilled. However, the agitation will be called off immediately if the government fulfils the drivers’ demands, said John. Besides, there is no objection against the petroleum outlets from opening their oil pumps, but the drivers will cease work as a part of the agitation, he added.
Authorisation of stringent action such as shoot at sight order to anybody who disturbs/attacks the escort convoy movement is among the demands raised by considering that these essential items belong to more than 35 different communities of the state. Attacks will be considered as an act of terrorism towards the 35 different communities; therefore, such attacks should be dealt with by the strictest law of the country, it mentioned.
It was also demanded that the security escort guarding the POL and Bulk LPG Tankers must handle any untoward incident that happens along the route.
It was demanded that at least one security personnel must be deployed for each and every TT joining the convoy (as implemented previously). “In case of any breakdown to the Tankers, a security convoy must escort the vehicle until it is roadworthy. Disciplinary action must be initiated to the security personnel who are unaccountable and irresponsible,” it stated.
It was further demanded that if any driver becomes permanently disabled due to any incident in the line of duty, the government must confer a suitable job to the next kin in the family with respect to the incumbent’s qualification or pay a lump sum amount, minimum of Rs 15 lakh to the concerned family.
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In case of any driver succumbs due to any untoward incident in the line of duty, Government must pay an ex-gratia Rs 40 Lakh to the bereaved family with a suitable job to the next kin member of the family, it said.
The Union of India should have a dialogue for a long-term solution with any known/unknown organizations to ensure the safe passage for the drivers along the highway, it added.
It further mentioned that “as it is not certain where and when the shooting by heavily armed miscreants may occur, our lives are at stake on a daily basis, only above points will empower us to render our services smoothly.”
