Indefinite eco blockade from today

September 29, 2020 131 Views No Comment

NO TRUCKS TO ENTER DIMAPUR INDEFINITELY FROM 7 A.M. TUESDAY

DIMAPUR, SEP 28 (NPN): Five truck associations-Dimapur District Truck Owners’ Association, Dimapur Truck Drivers’ Union, Dimapur District Truck Drivers’ Welfare Trade Union, Lahorijan & Khatkhati Truckers’ Welfare Society and Bokajan Truck Owners’ Association-Monday announced their “indefinite economic blockade” on Dimapur, starting 7am of September 29, 2020.

The “indefinite economic blockade” will be effected at the inter-state check gates at Dillai and New Field Check gate.

Earlier, the five truck associations had on September 24, served a three-day ultimatum on the state government to resolve the various problems faced by truckers in Dimapur against the backdrop of the killing of a truck driver (identified as Jiten Gogoi from Assam) at around 2.30 a.m. on September 22 near IMC Hall Dimapur. They warned that in the event of failure by the state government to resolve various problems faced by truckers in Dimapur within three days, they would be compelled to impose “indefinite chakka bandh” by stopping all trucks from entering Dimapur.

On expiry of the three-day deadline, the five truckers associations informed that they will go ahead with their “indefinite economic blockade” w.e.f. Tuesday from 7 a.m. since there had been no positive response from the government of Nagaland over their demands.

Among the principal demands of the truckers associations was for ending the present Lease system practised by the Dimapur Municipal Council(DMC) which they claimed, was the root cause of “these entire problems” as the Lessees (contractors) were “actively involved in passing details of goods vehicles to all the miscreants.”

In their earlier press statement, the five associations pointed out that drivers of all goods transport trucks were unwilling to enter Dimapur until their safety and protection was ensured against various miscreants. Further, the five associations also said that the “internal conflict of taxation among the so-called transporters/brokers” based in Dimapur has also created fear psychosis among the truckers. They alleged that the transporters insist that truckers meet different underground groups and also do not allow truckers to be provided with police escort while entering Dimapur. “Deeply worried” by the deteriorating law and order in the city, the associations had said they were left with no option but to serve the ultimatum on the state government and law enforcing agencies. They had also demanded that the state government provide compensation to the victim’s family.

It may be mentioned that the Public Action Committee (PAC) Dimapur on September 26, 2020 had also served a 10-day ultimatum on the district administration and police to identify and book culprit(s) responsible for the killing of a truck driver (Jiten Gogoi) and also make public the report of the investigation, failing which, it will be compelled to resort to its own course of action.

According to sources, the ten-day ultimatum of PAC would have given time to public from the facing consequences if the indefinite bandh came into effect and also given more time to have the matter resolved.

On September 26, 2020, Dimapur police reportedly arrested one person from Dimapur in connection with the killing of truck driver.

CP meets truckers: Commissioner of Police Dimapur, Rothihu Tetseo, on September 26, 2020 held a meeting with the truckers and discussed the grievances faced by the truckers. When Nagaland Post asked about the progress made in the investigation of September 22 killing, Tetseo said information cannot be divulged since investigation was still on.

Police escort: Dimapur police Monday informed that all the transport vehicles entering Dimapur from Assam through Dellai/Newfield Check Gate bound for Dimapur town or in transit through Dimapur district towards Kohima district would be provided armed escort till Dimapur town/Chümoukedima check gate.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/indefinite-eco-blockade-from-today/222467.html