‘Although the people have been demanding for instituting a Highway Protection Force, the state government has not taken up any work towards it, said AITUC, Manipur State Committee secretary A Sharatchandra
TFM Desk
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Manipur State Committee slammed the central and state governments for their inaction against the NSCN (IM), which has been collecting “extra tax” from trucks of the state plying along National Highway 37 and 39 for so many years. It is a matter of shame that GoI and GoM have turned a blind eye and are unable to nab the culprits, the trade union asserted.
AITUC, Manipur State Committee secretary A Sharatchandra maintained that cadres of NSCN (IM) continue to levy illegal tax and harass drivers and helpers of trucks plying along the national highways which are lifelines of the landlocked state. He also added that apart from the NSCN (IM), other hill-based insurgent groups are also involved in such activities and insisted that the intelligence agency of the government know about this.
Although the people have been demanding for instituting a Highway Protection Force, the state government has not taken up any work towards it, he said. Appealing for setting up such a force, he urged the chief minister to approach the concerned about the matter.
Sharatchandra also urged GoI not to finalise the ongoing peace talk with NSCN (IM) until the matter of illegal taxation on the national highways.
Stating that the hike in petroleum prices has affected the masses, he also added that the illegal taxes by the NSCN (IM) has added woes to the suffering of the people of the state due to the rising price of essential commodities.