Newmai News Network Imphal | April 30 For the second time in less than a fortnight transporters were attacked again by gunmen along the National Highway-2. A driver was hit by a bullet in the attack. However, the driver’s condition is reported to be out of danger. Reports suggest that around 5:30 am today some unidentified gunmen fired at goods laden trucks when they reached a place called Changoubung in the newly created Kangpokpi district. In the attack a driver of an oil tanker was hit by a bullet in his arm. Reports stated he is out of danger. The oil tankers were heading for Imphal from Khatkhati in Assam escorted by CRPF. Meanwhile, a massive combing operation was carried out in the Changoubung area by a combined team of police from Kagpokpi district, Imphal West district, Thoubal district and Bishnupur district, according to sources. No group has claimed responsibility for today’s attack on the transporters. One of the oil tankers was seen hit on its windshield by a bullet. All the oil tankers have reached Imphal. On April 18 last, gunmen attacked loaded oil tankers near Kangpokpi, some 60 km north of Imphal. In the attack, a tanker each loaded with diesel and petrol were hit by bullets. Interestingly on April 21, four Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) cadres involved in the April 18 attack on oil tankers in Kangpokpi district of Manipur were arrested by police. Director General of Police (DGP), L.M. Khaute had said on April 21 that the four arrested KRA cadres were involved in the firing incident of the oil tankers on April 18 at S.Golai between Kangpokpi and Changoubung. The police officer alleged that these KRA cadres were also involved in many other crimes like kidnapping of drivers, detention of vehicles, extortions, firing at passenger vehicles at Henbung, etc. It can be noted here that, All Manipur Petroleum Transporters’ Association had met Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Imphal hours after the April 18 attack on transporters and had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister urging him to provide adequate security to the transporters along the National Highways leading to Manipur. The Association had also said that the “drivers have been facing hardship due to the activities of ‘anti social elements’ along the National Highways” for decades. The All Manipur Petroleum Transporters’ Association had also threatened to stop fetching goods if such unwanted incidents continued.
