Ukhrul: The indefinite bandh imposed in the Imphal-Ukhrul-Imphal highway by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) has continued on the second day on Thursday.
With the bandh taking effect from March 6 (Wednesday), all passenger vehicles remained off the road along the route causing huge inconveniences especially to commuters from Imphal to Ukhrul and vice-versa.
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The bandh is being enforced by a JAC comprised of Ukhrul District Taxi Welfare Association (UDTWA), All Tangkhul Drivers Association, Bus Union, Drivers Union, DI Association and Truck Association against to control the illegal extortion by various valley civil organisations along the Imphal-Ukhrul stretch.
The JAC alleged that the valley-based CSOs like All Manipur Pony Conservation Forum and All Manipur Youth Welfare Federation are collecting the illegal taxes in the name of donations to all transport service provider within the Imphal-Ukhrul-Imphal stretch.
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According to Genesis Mahung, JAC secretary, the issue is yet to be solved by the concerned authority despite a memorandum being submitted to the chief minister on March 3 urging his intervention to stop the illegal tax collections.
“We will continue the indefinite bandh along the Imphal-Ukhrul route till the issue is address by the authority,” he said.
Genesis also informed that to oversee the bandh, the JAC has deployed volunteers at three locations namely Finch Corner, Litan and Mahadev. At the same time, private vehicles are allowed along the Imphal-Ukhrul route only after getting permission from the JAC, he said.
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Meanwhile, several commuters who are planning to travel to Ukhrul were seen stranded in Imphal after the passenger vehicle services were shut. Most of these passengers were either coming from another district or state and were unaware of the bandh being enforced.
I came from Jiribam this afternoon but I’ll be compelled to stay back here in Imphal if I can’t find any vehicles going to Ukhrul, says Tayamoi Rai, who engages in construction as a labourer.
Similarly, Chetri had to return back home along with his uncle who came to drop him at the ISBT parking after no passenger vehicle services from Imphal to Ukhrul was available.
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