Newmai News Network
Imphal: Motorists in Manipur were hit hard as most of the fuel pumps across the state remained closed in response to a strike call given by drivers of oil tankers and petroleum product transporters.
All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters Association (AMPPTA) and the All Manipur Petroleum Products Drivers Association (AMPPDA) launched a cease work strike from today in protest against “criminal acts of firing at oil tankers” along NH-37 in Noney district on Monday night.
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While carrying out the cease work strike, the two associations urged the fuel product outlets to remain shut as they would stop offloading the products at the government oil depots as well as to the oil pumps with immediate effect.
In response to the shutdown call, except for a very few, most of the oil pumps across the state remained closed for the day, disrupting the normal availability of fuel.
The motorists had to rush to the very few oil pumps that were open as usual. They were seen in a long beeline filling their fuel tanks.
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However, most of them were disappointed when the operators announced stock exhaustion.
To note here, a convoy of 179 Imphal-bound loaded oil and LPG tankers along the NH-37 were attacked with guns by unidentified armed miscreants as they approached the Nungba area on Monday, around 8.30 pm, reports said.
At least two oil tankers were hit by bullets even though the drivers and handymen had a narrow escape, the report added.
Strongly condemning the “criminal acts” of the miscreants and alleging that the authorities could not provide adequate security to the petroleum product transporters, AMPPTA and AMPPDA announced the indefinite cease work strike with effect from Thursday.
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They also stopped loading and unloading fuels at government oil depots at Malom in Imphal West district from today while urging the operators of the fuel stations to remain shut to their outlets during the strike.
While giving the cease work strike, the two associations also alleged that since a long time back the associations have been urging the government to provide adequate security forces along the highway for protection of vehicles plying on NH-37 from extortion and other anti-social activities on the highway.
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