Petroleum product carriers strike in Manipur over assault by cops

Shipping of petroleum products in Manipur was disturbed after drivers of petroleum product carriers resorted to cease work strike to protest against the alleged physical assault on one of their colleagues by a suspected personnel of Manipur police a few days ago.
On June 14, a group of armed persons with khaki trousers suspected to be police personnel in a four-wheeler forcibly stopped a bullet tanker (bulk LPG carrier) and assaulted its driver, Kh Herojit.
The incident happened while the driver was heading home after unloading the bulk LPG at Sekmai LPG Bottling Plant in Imphal West district.
Taking serious note of the way the suspects were handling their colleague, the drivers of petroleum product carriers served a 48-hour ultimatum to the state government to investigate the incident and take up befitting action.
However, with no positive response even after the expiry of the deadline, the drivers decided to undergo an indefinite cease work strike commencing from today.
With the commencement of the strike, around 150 tankers which were to depart for Jiribam along NH-37 to procure petroleum products refused to proceed on Wednesday even as the security escorts were ready to take them.
According to the drivers, all the Imphal-bound tankers currently on the way will also suspend their services. They are likely to be stranded midway at Jiribam.
Talking to the reporters, a driver said that they were facing all odds to procure the petroleum products to Imphal in the interest of the people of the state.
However, they were highly disappointed with the attitude of the uniform personnel who assaulted their colleague without paying any respect.
He demanded lawful action against the police personnel involved in the assault incident saying that it would not be a hard task for the government authorities to establish the identities of the assailants.
“We strongly believe that they were police commando personnel. They openly display their weapons,” he said.
If no action is initiated even after the cease work strike, the drivers will intensify the protest by stopping distribution of petroleum products from the government oil depots to the retail outlets, he warned.