Unidentified militants fired at a convoy of trucks carrying fuel and other essential commodities to blockade-hit Manipur on Tuesday even as the security officials suspect hand of the anti-talk faction of NSCN (K) militants behind the incident.
The incident took place at Awanakhu Village in newly-created Noney District of Manipur on Tuesday morning. “A convoy involving close to 300 trucks carrying fuel and other essential commodities were on its way from Silchar in Assam to Imphal through the NH 37. However, the trucks came under fire at the Awanakhu Village. There is, however, no injury or any casualty,” said Noney Superintendent of Police, TK Anal.
The Road Opening Parties (ROP) of the Assam Rifles, who have been engaged by the State Government for area domination, also retaliated to the firing immediately.
It may be mentioned here that the Manipur Government has been using the NH 37—from Silchar in Assam to Imphal through Jiribam—due to the ongoing blockade of two other highways in Manipur NH 2 and NH 53 since November 1 last year.
The Manipur Government had arranged to airlift six diesel tankers with a total capacity of 96 kilolitres from Guwahati to Imphal on Monday to meet the fuel crisis in blockade-hit Manipur. Defence sources said that C - 17 heavylift transport aircraft was deployed for the purpose.
“We have been planning to being the fuel and essential commodities to the state through convoy of 300 vehicles under tight security through the NH 37. Our plan is to bring in at least 1200 trucks in four convoy of 300 trucks in a week on alternate day basis,” said Manipur Chief Secretary, O Nabakishore.
He said that the Government has engaged the Assam Rifles in area domination operation in the NH 37 so that safety could be ensured to trucks carrying essential commodities. He said that there is no crisis of medicines in the state so far as essential medicines have been airlifted from Delhi with the help from Ministry of civil aviations.