From the early hours of January 24, the All Petroleum Retail Outlet Dealers Association had shut down all the oil pumps in Manipur to protest attacks on drivers.
About the incident:
Sources state that the protest took place in response to the urge by the oil and gasoline tankers’ drivers as few time back 105 gas and petrol tankers which were coming from Assam were attacked in which drivers were brutally beaten up ruthlessly by the tribal youths who had imposed an indefinite blockade following a hit-and-run incident in Kangpokpi district along NH 2 on January 21. The drivers said that they were transporting fuel from Assam to Manipur unaware of the blockade.
Legal authorities stood silent:
According to the drivers, while the brutal scene took place, the legal authorities were standing nearby and simply observing the entire incident and did not even care to take control of the same. The drivers and others are demanding the arrest of the attackers, compensation for the damaged tankers and treatment of the injured drivers.
Police alerts the nearby areas:
An unspecified blockade was imposed from January 21 by residents in the district who are demanding the arrest of the driver involved in the hit-and-run incident on January 19. Sources say that an individual named Paokhosei Chongloi, was killed in the accident. Police said that a case has already been registered and investigation was underway to apprehend the driver. Besides, the police had made the neighbouring states aware of the entire incident and about the individuals involved since, it is very likely that the car had travelled to Manipur.
Oil tankers stopped to enter:
As many as 120 oil tankers were stopped from moving further along the National Highway-2 at Lairouching, Kangpokpi district out of which, 75 are oil tankers of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited; 30 are gas bullet tankers and 15 are Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited oil tankers.
During the protest staged by the highway oil tanker drivers in front of Malom Oil Depot, Malom, Imphal West on Saturday, one of the protesters named Pukhrambam John alias Tomba told media that the drivers strongly condemned the attack on the oil tankers without any warning. If the ban supporters cautioned the drivers, then the drivers might have cooperated with them, he added.
Residents in distress:
At the same time the sudden closure of the oil pumps caused inconvenience to the people who had to buy petrol and diesel at exorbitant prices from roadside vendors.